Autumn Sunburst Azalea

Autumn Sunburst Azalea (Rhododendron Encore 'Autumn Sunburst') carries a bicoloured bloom most azaleas cannot manage: a white flower rimmed with a clean coral pink edge, so a plant in full flower looks like two varieties at once. It is compact at about 1.2m tall and 1.2m wide, evergreen, and bred to flower in spring and again through autumn. It also handles the heat and humidity that defeat older garden azaleas.

Why you'll love it

• A flower with two colours. White petals with a coral pink picotee edge, so the display reads as pink from a distance and white up close.
• It repeats. The Encore azaleas were bred for a second season, with the main flush in spring and a lighter one through autumn.
• Compact and predictable. At 1.2m in both directions it holds its place in a border or a pot without annual cutting back.
• Heat tolerant and frost hardy. It works in a humid subtropical garden and a cold southern one, unusual for an azalea.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 80cm apart along a bed edge for a low, soft line at about hip height. The bicolour reads best where people walk past closely enough to see the pink margin.

Mass planting under trees. Groups of three or five at 80cm centres suit dappled light beneath established trees, where the pale flowers lift a shaded corner.

Pots and low hedging. One plant suits a pot 400mm or wider in acidic mix. For a low informal hedge, keep to 80cm spacing and shape lightly after spring.

Growing Autumn Sunburst Azalea in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade with morning sun and protection from hot afternoon light. It suits warm temperate, subtropical and cool temperate gardens. Frost is no problem once established, though a first year plant benefits from cover on the coldest nights. In humid gardens, space plants so air moves through the foliage.

Soil. Acidic and free draining, with compost and aged pine bark worked through the bed. Plant shallow, with the top of the root ball just above the surrounding soil, and mulch 50mm deep away from the stem. Waterlogged ground kills azaleas.

Water and feed. Even moisture through the first two summers, applied as a deep soak twice weekly rather than a daily sprinkle. Feed with an azalea and camellia fertiliser after spring flowering and again in late summer.

Pruning. Light tip pruning immediately after the spring flush is all it needs, and it thickens the plant. Stop pruning by late summer so the autumn buds stay on the plant.

What to expect when it arrives

This variety is grown as tube stock. A tube is a young plant, usually 15cm to 25cm tall with a few side branches, and it is the most reliable way to buy an azalea by post because the root ball is small and undisturbed. Expect a proper display from the second year.

Keep it shaded and watered for a week after arrival, then plant into prepared soil or pot it up. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Be aware before ordering: azaleas are toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full azalea range
• Autumn Cheer Azalea, the clear pink option at the same mature size
• More plants for partial shade
• Planting and care basics for new garden plants

Common questions

What do the flowers actually look like?

Each bloom is white with a distinct coral pink band around the petal edge. The proportion of pink varies with temperature and light, so the same plant looks softer in spring and stronger in a warm autumn.

How far apart should I plant them?

80cm apart for a border run or a low informal hedge. That leaves each plant room to reach its full 1.2m width while still knitting into a continuous line.

Is it safe around pets?

No. All azaleas are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, and the same applies to horses. Plant it out of reach or choose another shrub if your pet grazes the garden.