Autumn Monarch Encore Azalea

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

5 Feet

Mature Spread

4 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 10

Autumn Monarch Encore Azalea is true royalty in the garden! Its 2.5-inch orange-red, semi-double flowers stand out against rich, dark evergreen foliage. Blooming is heaviest in spring with repeat performances throughout summer and fall. This robust shrub is a real standout, so give it a place of prominence, either among other foundation plants or within a mixed border.

This azalea reigns in sun or shade, so you have lots of choices when it comes to companion plants. Temper the color of its fiery blossoms with cool white spring bloomers like peonies, roses, and iris, or create a kaleidoscope of color by mixing it with blue lungwort (Pulmonaria), yellow false indigo (Baptisia), and pink bleeding heart (Dicentra), all tempered with cool green ferns.

Autumn Monarch Encore Azalea Care

Plant in well-draining soil in part shade to full sun. Mulch around the base of the plant and water the first year to establish. In spring, apply a slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for azaleas. Pruning is not necessary, but if you want to do any trimming, wait until after the spring blooms fade.

Autumn Monarch Encore Azalea Spacing

This shrub is a bit taller than wide at maturity, so be mindful of its 5-foot height if you are thinking of placing it under a window. When planting, allow 2.5 feet of space on all sides, which it will grow into with time. You can fill in with annuals and perennials in the meantime. If you want to grow more than one of these shrubs to create a mass, space them a little tighter, about 2 feet center-on-center.