The new Autumn Lilac® Encore® azalea offers awe-inspiring lavender blooms with deep purple freckles. The Autumn Lilac was bred for its cold hardiness and selected for its naturally rounded shape and amazing purple blooms.

The 2 inch, lacy dark lilac blooms covering this azalea offer a stunning contrast to its deep green foliage. You will enjoy attractive green foliage year-round and lavender purple blooms in spring, summer, and fall.

Key Features

• Amazing floral display! The Encore® Autumn Lilac® blooms and reblooms for 3 seasons!
• A dwarf variety. The Lilac azalea will reach a height of about 3 feet tall and 3.5 feet wide.
• A tough and easy to grow flowering shrub. Encore azaleas are pest and disease resistant and low maintenance. The Lilac grows in zone 6 to zone 10 so it tolerates cooler and hotter temperatures than many other azaleas.
• Grows in sun! Contrary to most azaleas that need shade the Encore Lilac azalea grows well in sun so you won't have to hide these beauties from the world!

Pro Tip: When growing Encore® Azaleas in containers choose a pot with excellent drainage and be sure to water more often than you would when they are planted in the ground. Water your container azaleas whenever the soil is dry to the touch.

When planting your azalea be sure you have the right location and conditions for your new plants to thrive.

Planting

Planting time: Spring and fall are ideal times to plant azaleas. However, if you avoid freezing and extremely hot temperatures you can plant any time of the year

Sun: Full sun to part shade. Encore azaleas will perform best with at least 4-6 hours of sun. While your Encore azalea will still grow and even bloom in shady areas they are less likely to rebloom and the blooms won't be as prolific.

Soil: Azaleas prefer acidic soil that drains well. If you have alkaline soil, be sure to amend it. To acidify your soil amend with compost, elemental sulfur, or use fertilizers specific for acid loving plants. Mulching with pine straw or pine bark will help over time as they begin to break down, but are not an immediate solution. To improve drainage in something like a heavy clay soil, add compost and be sure to loosen up the soil well before planting.

Fertilizing

Choose a balanced slow release fertilizer. Fertilize in late winter or early spring before flowering for best results.

Maintenance

You don’t need to prune Encore azaleas, but pruning after they are done blooming can help encourage a bushier growth and renew an older plant. You can use pruning to control size, but don't prune of more than 1/3 of the plant for best results.

The Autumn Lilac Encore azalea adds vibrant color to your landscape. Azaleas are excellent for borders and mass plantings. This evergreen shrub jazzes up gardens and mixed beds. At 3 to 4 feet tall and wide at maturity this stunning azalea can even be used in foundation plantings. Try this flowering shrub in a container to add a bold pop of color to your entryway, porch, patio, or deck. For borders or low hedges plant about 3 feet apart on center. Otherwise, plant about 5 feet apart to give your plants space in-between.

For additional options, be sure to browse our Azalea and Evergreen Shrub collection.