
Light Needs

Mature Height

Mature Spread

Growing Zones
This little sweetheart of a shrub deserves a space in any partly shady to full-sun garden as it offers so much no matter the time of year. In spring, it is smothered in 2.5-inch pale pink ruffled flowers whose petals are delicately sprinkled with slightly darker pink flecks. It flowers sporadically the rest of the season, then has another good flush of flowers to finish out the summer. The foliage remains on the plant throughout winter, providing a much-needed shot of green when the garden is most drab. You can site this plant on its own, surrounded by other shrubs and perennials, clustered along a foundation or massed as an evergreen border. Their 4x4 size means they won’t engulf your house or overwhelm other plants, making them useful in many garden situations.
Because Autumn Sweetheart’s blooms are so pale—almost white in fact—they show up well in part-shade. They are beautiful grouped under trees and larger shrubs, creating a naturalized effect. The color also works well with other pastel-colored woodland plants like hardy geraniums and false forget-me-not (Brunnera) or as a foil to more dramatic plants like Sun King Golden Japanese Aralia (named 2020 Perennial Plant of the Year). Don’t be afraid to site this shrub in sunnier garden areas though, it can take it!
Autumn Sweetheart Encore Azalea Care
Be sure to site the azalea where it can reach mature size so you do not have to fight to keep it in bounds. If you do so, pruning is only needed to remove the occasional dead branch. Azaleas bloom best where they receive some light—at least part shade, and they can take full sun too. Well- draining soil is key as they dislike being waterlogged. Aftercare is minimal—just water well after planting and during the first year to establish the plant. Then each spring, re-apply a light mulch around the plant and fertilize with a slow-release granular fertilizer.
Autumn Sweetheart Encore Azalea Spacing
For general garden areas where you are placing Autumn Sweetheart with other shrubs and perennials, give it two feet all around as it will eventually grow into a 4x4-foot rounded shrub. When placing it with others of its kind, you can space it a little closer, around 1.5 feet from the trunk of the adjacent shrub, so the eventual effect is of one continuous shrub.
Autumn Sweetheart Encore Azalea Plant Facts
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10 |
Flower Color(s): Pink |
Bloom Period: Spring to Fall |
Foliage Color(s): Dark Green |
Light Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun |
Height: 4 Feet |
Spread: 4 Feet |
Habit: Upright |
Watering: Medium |
Features: Dwarf, Fall Blooming, Flowering, Rebloomer, Attracts Butterflies |
Scientific Name: Rhododendron Robleja PP16249 |
Common Name: Autumn Sweetheart Encore Azalea |
Brand: Encore Azalea |
- SKU:
- AZENSW
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.

Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts

Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts

Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts

Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons

We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.

Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 31th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!