{"product_id":"autumn-amethyst-encore-azalea-azalea-x-hybrida","title":"Autumn Amethyst™ Encore Azalea - Azalea x hybrida 'CONLEE'","description":"\u003cp\u003eAutumn Amethyst Encore Azalea (\u003cem\u003eAzalea x hybrida\u003c\/em\u003e '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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThree seasons of purple.\u003c\/strong\u003e Flowers open in spring, summer and autumn, heaviest in autumn and spring. A conventional azalea gives you a few weeks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter foliage colour.\u003c\/strong\u003e The shiny green leaves turn purple in winter, so the shrub still looks deliberate when nothing is in flower.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandles heat and cold.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is a heat tolerant azalea that also takes frost, and it copes with moderate drought once the roots are established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA dense, spreading habit.\u003c\/strong\u003e It fills out into a full 1m mound without any shaping.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSun or part shade.\u003c\/strong\u003e It flowers in full sun as well as in part shade, which gives it more places in the garden than many azaleas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting and borders.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecimen planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGarden beds.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Autumn Amethyst Encore Azalea in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Prune after the spring flowering and not later. Cutting in summer or autumn removes the buds for the next flush.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAutumn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/azalea-care-guide\"\u003eOur azalea care guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/azalea\"\u003eBrowse the full azalea range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ozbreed\"\u003eSee the full Ozbreed range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/mass-planting-plants\"\u003eMore plants for mass planting\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen does it flower?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn spring, summer and autumn, with the heaviest flowering in autumn and spring. The purple blooms are about 50mm across.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it keep its leaves in winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The shiny green foliage stays on and turns purple in the cooler months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it safe around pets?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Like all azaleas it is poisonous if eaten by dogs, cats or livestock, so plant it where animals do not graze.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67787106844991,"sku":"AZA-X-tube","price":15.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10) (Backorder)","offer_id":67787106943295,"sku":"AZA-X-140MM-P10","price":236.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/autumn-amethyst-encore-azalea-azalea-x-hybrida.jpg?v=1792146019","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/autumn-amethyst-encore-azalea-azalea-x-hybrida","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}