Images Depict Mature Plants
Azalea Autumn Fire Shrubs for Sale Online
Autumn Fire Encore Azalea is a dwarf azalea growing 2½ feet tall by 3 feet across which boasts a tremendous display of lush, large, and red semi-double blooms in the spring. Additional flushes of blooms develop in the summer and again in the fall.
The attractive evergreen foliage also provides year-round seasonal interest with its glossy, dark green coloration. During the growing season, the foliage darkens to a saturated purple bronze during the winter months.
Autumn Fire Encore Azalea is a great ornamental plant that livens up the landscape with bright colors throughout multiple seasons. Autumn Fire Encore Azalea is a great choice for borders, mass plantings, or attractive patio containers.
| Hardiness Zone: | 6-10 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 2 to 2.5 feet |
| Mature Width: | 2.5 to 3 feet |
| Classification: | Dwarf, broad leaved evergreen shrub |
| Sunlight: | Part shade to filtered sun |
| Habit: | Upright |
| Foliage: | Light green |
| Flower Color: | Rich, velvety red semi-double blooms |
| Pruning Season: | Pruning not needed |
| Soil Condition: | Any well drained soil |
| Water Requirements: | Water well until established |
| Uses: | Extremely attractive when used as in the mixed border, or containers |
How to Care for Autumn Fire® Encore® Azalea
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy plant for years to come!
How do I water Azalea Autumn Fire Shrubs?
Encore Azaleas prefer a well hydrated environment, but they cannot sit in water for long periods of time. Water that does not drain away will cause root rot. Depending on how quickly or slowly your soil drains water will determine how frequently you should water your Encore Autumn Fire Azalea, as well as sun exposure and seasonal heat. When you first plant your azalea, give the ground a long, healthy watering. Then, for the next few days, check the soil daily to see how quickly or slowly it begins to feel dry. When the top inch of the soil (about the length to your first knuckle) are fairly dry to the touch, then water for a 5 second count for each gallon size your plant arrived in. A 3 gallon pot will need a 15 second count when watering, etc. This way you can keep your azalea happy and avoid the risks of overwatering.
How do I fertilize Azalea Autumn Fire Shrubs?
Autumn Fire Azaleas bloom multiple times throughout the year, so you want to make sure and fertilize at optimal times in order to feed your azalea right when it needs it and no more. We recommend fertilizing either at the very first signs of spring, or right after the spring cycle of blooms are complete. It's better to fertilize earlier in the year than later, even though the Fire Azaleas will bloom again for you in the fall, since they are sensitive when it comes to fertilizer. They like their soil to have some acidity, and they benefit from fertilizers that provide just the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Espoma Flower-tone is a good go-to for bloomers like Fire Azaleas.
How do I mulch Azalea Autumn Fire Shrubs?
We highly recommend that you mulch your Azalea Autumn Fire Shrubs with either a ground hardwood mulch or a ground cypress mulch depending on your local availability. Any mulch will do, but cypress or hardwood mulch will be of a higher quality and provide better nutrition overall as they break down. Mulching helps keep weeds away that compete with your new investment for water and nutrients. A 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch is sufficient but remember to take care not to cover any part of the stem with mulch. It is better to leave a one-inch gap of space between the mulch and the stem or trunk of the plant. It is also a plant that will respond well to mulching with pine Needles (if available in your area). Doing so will help maintain the acidic condition that Azalea Autumn Fire Shrubs thrive.
How Do I Plant My Fire Autumn Azalea Shrub?
Autumn Fire Azaleas, like their Encore Azalea family, prefer to stay moist but must have well draining soil. This is why we highly recommend that you amend your soil before planting your Autumn Fire, to make sure they become established successfully and thrive. Clay soils are too dense and the roots will not be able to breathe and grow. First, dig a hole that is twice as wide and the same depth as the root ball. Then, amend the soil in the bottom of the hole to be an even mix of native soil and organic material, such as peat moss, pine bark, or a compost material. Position your azalea in the hole so that it is not too deep (the potting mix it arrived in should be slightly visible when done), and backfill the hole with the same 50/50 mix. Pat gently when finished, layer with organic mulch and water thoroughly.
