Autumn Cheer Azalea

Autumn Cheer Azalea (Rhododendron Encore 'Autumn Cheer') is a compact evergreen shrub bred to flower more than once a year. It holds a tidy 1.2m tall and 1.2m wide, so it fits a border, a courtyard pot or a low informal hedge without constant shearing. The blooms are clear pink, and unlike the older garden azaleas this one takes real heat and humidity as readily as it takes frost.

Why you'll love it

• Two flowering seasons. The Encore azaleas were bred to repeat, with the main flush in spring and a lighter showing through autumn.
• It stays the size you planted. At 1.2m tall and wide it will not swallow a border or outgrow a pot, so pruning is a choice rather than a chore.
• Heat and humidity tolerant. Older azaleas sulk through a subtropical summer. This one copes, and it is frost hardy at the cool end of the country.
• Evergreen structure. Dark foliage holds the shape of a bed between flushes, which is where deciduous colour plants leave a hole.

Where it works best

Low informal hedge. Plant 80cm apart in a single row. The plants meet at about hip height and stay dense without shearing, and light shaping is what keeps the flower buds on the plant.

Mass planting and borders. Groups of three or five at 80cm centres give a block of colour under established trees, where dappled light suits it better than open sun.

Pots and courtyards. A pot 400mm or wider suits one plant. Use an acidic potting mix, because azaleas yellow quickly when the pH climbs.

Growing Autumn Cheer Azalea in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade is ideal: morning sun with cover from hard afternoon heat. It suits warm temperate, subtropical and cool temperate gardens, and it takes frost once established. In a subtropical garden give it more shade and good air movement.

Soil. Acidic, free draining and rich in organic matter. Work compost and aged pine bark through the bed, keep the root ball slightly proud of the soil, and mulch 50mm deep clear of the stem. Azaleas are surface rooted and will not tolerate wet feet.

Water and feed. Keep the soil evenly moist through the first two summers, watering deeply twice a week rather than lightly every day. Feed with an azalea and camellia fertiliser after the spring flush and again in late summer.

Pruning. Tip prune lightly straight after the spring flowering, then leave it alone from late summer onwards, or you will cut off the buds that carry the autumn display.

What to expect when it arrives

This variety is grown as tube stock: young plants 15cm to 25cm tall with a few branches. They establish quickly because the root system has not been checked by a large pot. Expect a light first season and a proper display in the second year.

Tube stock travels well and arrives ready to pot on or plant out. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. One honest note: azaleas are toxic to cats, dogs and horses if the leaves or flowers are eaten.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full azalea range
• Autumn Sunburst Azalea, a bicoloured alternative at the same mature size
• More plants for partial shade
• Planting and care basics for new garden plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant them for a low hedge?

80cm apart in a single row. That lets each plant fill out and meet its neighbour without crowding, giving a soft hedge of about 1m in two to three seasons.

Does it really flower twice?

The Encore azaleas were bred to repeat, so the spring flush is followed by a lighter autumn one. The second showing depends on warmth and steady water, and it is stronger in warm temperate and subtropical gardens.

Is it safe around pets?

No. Every azalea is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, and the same compounds affect horses. Pick a different shrub if your pet chews foliage.