Autumn Amethyst™ Encore Azalea

Autumn Amethyst Encore Azalea (Azalea x hybrida 'Autumn Amethyst') is a purple azalea that keeps flowering long after ordinary azaleas have stopped. It grows into a dense, spreading shrub about 1m high and 1m wide, with shiny green leaves that turn purple in winter and vibrant flowers about 50mm across. It is part of the Encore azalea range that Ozbreed brings to Australian gardens.

Why you'll love it

• Three seasons of purple. Flowers open in spring, summer and autumn, heaviest in autumn and spring. A conventional azalea gives you a few weeks.
• Winter foliage colour. The shiny green leaves turn purple in winter, so the shrub still looks deliberate when nothing is in flower.
• Handles heat and cold. It is a heat tolerant azalea that also takes frost, and it copes with moderate drought once the roots are established.
• A dense, spreading habit. It fills out into a full 1m mound without any shaping.
• Sun or part shade. It flowers in full sun as well as in part shade, which gives it more places in the garden than many azaleas.

Where it works best

Mass planting and borders. Plant 80cm apart in a drift, or in a single row along a path. At that spacing the mounds meet within two seasons and make a continuous band of purple.

Specimen planting. One plant beside an entry or at the end of a path gives a 1m dome that is in flower for far more of the year than a once a year shrub.

Garden beds. In front of taller evergreen shrubs it brings colour to a bed in autumn, when many borders go quiet. Like every azalea it is poisonous if eaten, so keep it away from chewing dogs.

Growing Autumn Amethyst Encore Azalea in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. Ozbreed lists it for Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, which covers subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It is not suited to the tropics. In hot inland gardens give it afternoon shade and steady water.

Soil. Well drained soil with plenty of organic matter suits it best. Plant with the root ball slightly above the surrounding soil and cover the bed with a chunky mulch. Heavy soil that stays wet is the usual reason azaleas fail, so mound the bed if drainage is doubtful.

Water and feed. Water well through the first year so the plant establishes fully; that is what makes it more drought tolerant as it matures. After that, top up in dry spells. If it needs feeding, a slow release fertiliser in spring is enough.

Pruning. Prune after the spring flowering and not later. Cutting in summer or autumn removes the buds for the next flush.

What to expect when it arrives

Autumn Amethyst Encore Azalea is grown as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tube stock is the economical way to plant a long border, while the potted packs give a fuller drift sooner. Stock comes from Ozbreed's licensed growers and is not always available. A size shows as sold out when no grower has it, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back. Plants travel upright and settle quickly in mild weather.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Our azalea care guide
• Browse the full azalea range
• See the full Ozbreed range
• More plants for mass planting

Common questions

When does it flower?

In spring, summer and autumn, with the heaviest flowering in autumn and spring. The purple blooms are about 50mm across.

Does it keep its leaves in winter?

Yes. The shiny green foliage stays on and turns purple in the cooler months.

Is it safe around pets?

No. Like all azaleas it is poisonous if eaten by dogs, cats or livestock, so plant it where animals do not graze.