Autumn Coral™ Encore Azalea

Autumn Coral Encore Azalea (Azalea x hybrida 'Autumn Coral') is a coral flowered azalea that blooms again and again instead of once. It makes a medium mound about 1m high and 1.2m wide, carrying single coral flowers about 60mm across that peak in autumn and spring, with regular flowers through summer. It is part of Ozbreed's Encore azalea range, chosen for its tolerance of heat and cold.

Why you'll love it

• Coral that comes back. Single coral flowers peak in autumn and spring and return more lightly through summer, so the shrub earns its place for most of the year.
• Large single blooms. At about 60mm across the flowers read clearly from the other side of the garden.
• A tidy medium mound. The mounding habit stays rounded and even, with one prune a year to keep it that way.
• Heat and cold tolerant. It takes frost, and once it is established it handles moderate drought.
• Sun or part shade. It performs in full sun as well as in part shade, which gives it more positions than many azaleas.

Where it works best

Borders and mass planting. Plant 90cm apart for a continuous band. The mature mounds are about 1.2m wide, so they overlap and join within two seasons at a little over one plant per square metre.

Specimen planting. A single plant beside a gate or at a bend in the path makes a coral dome about 1m high that flowers for more of the year than a once a year shrub.

Mixed garden beds. Coral sits well against green and silver foliage and white flowers, at the front of a sunny or lightly shaded bed.

Growing Autumn Coral Encore Azalea in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It is listed for Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, so it suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean climates. It copes with heat, but in the hottest inland gardens afternoon shade keeps the flowers from scorching. It is not a tropical plant.

Soil. It prefers well drained soil. Plant with the root ball slightly above the surrounding soil and spread a chunky mulch over the roots. Azaleas have shallow roots and do poorly in heavy, wet ground, so mound the bed on clay.

Water and feed. Water well for the first year so the plant establishes fully and becomes more drought tolerant as it matures. Top up in dry periods after that. A slow release fertiliser in spring is enough if the plant needs feeding.

Pruning. Prune after the spring flowering. A light shaping then keeps the mound tidy and protects the buds for the autumn flush.

What to expect when it arrives

Autumn Coral Encore Azalea is grown as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Stock comes from Ozbreed's licensed growers and is grown to order at times, so a pot size can show as backorder, and the tube shows as sold out until our grower lists it again. Order a backorder size and we confirm timing with you before anything ships. Tube stock suits a long border on a budget, and the packs of 10 give a quicker drift. Plants travel upright and settle fast 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

• How to grow azaleas well
• See all our azaleas
• Browse the Ozbreed plant range
• Frost hardy plants for cold gardens

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 90cm apart for a continuous band, or about 1m apart in a row where you want each mound to show. The plants spread to about 1.2m wide.

When should I prune it?

Straight after the spring flowering. Pruning later removes the buds that make the autumn flush.

Is it safe around pets?

No. All azaleas are poisonous if eaten, so keep it away from dogs, cats and grazing animals.