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Autumn Bonfire® Encore® Azalea
Rhododendron 'Robleza' PP29770
Azalea Autumn Bonfire Shrubs are a repeat blooming azalea that has true red colored flowers. These shrubs are a great addition to any garden due to their long blooming period.
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Azalea Autumn Bonfire Shrubs for Sale Online
Autumn Bonfire Encore Azalea Shrubs are dwarf azaleas that boast a tremendous display of lush red blooms in spring, summer, and fall. Add on this landscape plant's bright green foliage all year long; it is simply the total package!
This fast-growing flowering shrub is also cold hardy and is extremely low maintenance. The popular shrub very closely resembles the Autumn Fire Encore Azalea but has subtle differences. Unlike the Autumn Fire, The Bonfire Azalea has light green foliage that makes for a more bold and more vibrant statement.
Azalea Autumn Bonfire Shrubs are great ornamental plants that liven up any landscape with bright colors. Although not a traditional perennial, this reliable shrub has provided decorative value in the landscape for numerous years.
Ideal growing conditions for these red flowering Majesties include at least 4-6 hours of full sun and well-draining soil.
With its multi-seasonal landscape appeal, reliable performance, and ease of production, Autumn Bonfire Encore Azalea is unmatched. Reaching up to 3.5 feet high, the Autumn Bonfire works beautifully in foundation plantings. The shrub is also an excellent choice for borders, mass plantings, or attractive patio containers.
| Hardiness Zone: | 6-10 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 2 to 3 Feet |
| Mature Width: | 3 to 4 Feet |
| Classification: | Dwarf, Broad leaved evergreen shrub |
| Sunlight: | Part shade to filtered sun |
| Habit: | Dwarf |
| Foliage: | Light green |
| Flower Color: | True crimson red, semi-double |
| 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 Bonfire® 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 Bonfire 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 Bonfire 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 Bonfire Shrubs?
Autumn Bonfire 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 Bonfire 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 Bonfire Azaleas.
How do I mulch Azalea Autumn Bonfire Shrubs?
We highly recommend that you mulch your Azalea Autumn Bonfire 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 Bonfire Shrubs thrive.
How Do I Plant My Bonfire Autumn Azalea Shrub?
Autumn Bonfire 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.
