Autumn Carnivale Azalea

Autumn Carnivale Azalea (Rhododendron 'Autumn Carnivale') is a repeat flowering azalea: pink blooms in spring, then a second show through the cooler months. One of the Encore type azaleas, it settles at about 1.2m tall and 1.2m wide, a manageable shrub for a border or a pot.

Why you'll love it

• It flowers more than once. A spring flush, then a second round later in the year: the point of the Encore breeding.
• A sensible size. At 1.2m each way it fits a front border or a large pot without constant cutting back.
• Warm climate azalea. It handles humidity, so it suits subtropical gardens as well as warm and cool temperate ones.
• Low maintenance once settled. The right soil and a light trim after flowering is the whole job.

Where it works best

Low informal hedging. Plant 80cm apart, which lets the plants meet without crowding and keeps the loose shape that suits an azalea.

Pots and containers. A pot 400mm or wider with an acidic potting mix is the easiest way to give it the soil it wants in an alkaline garden.

Borders and mass planting. Massed at 80cm spacing it reads as one drift of colour, and a single plant near an entry earns its place twice a year.

Growing Autumn Carnivale Azalea in Australia

Position and climate. Dappled light, or morning sun with afternoon shade, gives the longest flowering; hot afternoon sun scorches the leaves. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, and takes light frost only, so hard frosting inland and tableland gardens need shelter under eaves or a canopy.

Soil. Azaleas need acidic, free draining soil rich in organic matter, ideally pH 5 to 6. Work compost and aged pine bark through the bed, plant slightly high, and never let it sit wet. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the stem.

Water and feed. The roots are shallow and fine, so it dries out faster than it looks. Water deeply through summer rather than lightly and often. Feed with an azalea and camellia fertiliser after the spring flowering and again in late summer.

Pruning. Tip prune straight after the spring flush. Avoid cutting late in the year, since that removes the buds carrying the second flowering.

What to expect when it arrives

Autumn Carnivale is grown in tube stock only: a single stem 10cm to 15cm tall with a small root ball. Expect it to fill a 200mm pot within a season and approach its mature 1.2m in three to four years.

Young azaleas transplant better than large ones and establish faster. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

One caution: azaleas are toxic to cats and dogs if the leaves or flowers are eaten. If your pet chews plants, keep this one well out of reach.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare the full azalea range
• How to lower soil pH for acid loving plants
• More plants for partial shade
• Browse plants suited to pots and containers

Common questions

Does it really flower twice?

Yes. A main spring flush is followed by a second, usually lighter, display later in the year. Warmth, water and no pruning after midsummer all help.

How far apart for a low hedge?

Eighty centimetres. Closer crowds the shallow roots and invites leaf problems in humid weather; wider leaves gaps this shrub is too small to close.

Why are the leaves turning yellow?

Almost always soil pH. Yellow leaves with green veins mean the soil is too alkaline for the plant to take up iron. Treat with iron chelates and a sulphur based acidifier.

Is it safe around pets?

No. All azaleas carry toxins in the leaves and flowers and are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten. Small amounts can cause vomiting and worse, so it is not a plant for a household with a chewer.