Autumn Bonfire™ Azalea

LET'S GROW

ABOUT ENCORE® AUTUMN BONFIRE™ AZALEA

This new, stunning evergreen azalea variety blooms in spring with large, trumpet-shaped, bright red flowers that are sure to catch your eye. But unlike other azalea types, Autumn Bonfire™ will produce flowers throughout summer, as well as a second, full flush of blooms in autumn. And, on the rare occasion it’s not in flower, this azalea’s small, densely packed leaves will add lots of rich, green color to your garden too.

Autumn Bonfire™ Azalea
Botanical Name	Rhododendron 'Robleza' PPAF
Azalea Growing Zone	Zone 6-9
Mature Azalea Height	3
Mature Azalea Width	3-4
Azalea Light Requirements	Full Sun, Partial Shade
Does Not Ship To	AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, PR

Encore® Autumn Bonfire™ azaleas are adaptable and they can handle brighter light than many other azalea varieties. This makes them a perfect choice for yards with full sun or part shade. Autumn Bonfire™ matures into a compact bush shape that measures about 3’ tall by 3’ wide. Appropriate for small-space gardens, you can also try planting azaleas in pots for even more flexibility. Autumn Bonfire™ also works well for mass plantings or when grown by itself as an attractive specimen plant.

Special features:

• Repeat blooms in spring through fall
• Vivid flower color
• Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators
• Adaptable to full sun or part shade
• Evergreen foliage
• Great for small spaces and container growing
• Encore® Autumn Bonfire™ Azalea plant care

Encore® Autumn Bonfire™ azaleas are not difficult to grow as long as you provide them with the recommended azalea growing conditions.  These plants are also naturally resistant to most pests, which makes them even easier to keep. Follow the guidelines below to learn how to grow azaleas and keep your plants happy and thriving for many years to come.

When to plant azaleas

Like many other shrubs and trees, the best time to plant azaleas is in the spring or autumn when temperatures are cool and rainfall is abundant. If you need to plant azaleas in summer, do your planting on an overcast day if possible and keep your plants well-watered to help them settle into your garden sooner.

Where to plant azaleas

Autumn Bonfire™ Encore® azaleas can grow in full sun to part shade and they can tolerate brighter light than many other azalea varieties.  In very hot locations, the best place to plant azaleas is in an area that receives some afternoon shade, such as under deciduous trees or on the north side of your garden.

Like other acid loving-plants, Autumn Bonfire™ prefers moist, well-draining soil with a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5. If you have alkaline soil, amend your beds with an organic soil acidifier or keep your azaleas in pots.

How to plant azaleas

Prior to planting your azaleas, amend the soil with compost or another rich organic material to provide extra nutrients to your plants while they’re adapting to your garden. You may also want to mix in a bit of peat moss to boost acidity levels and help maintain soil moisture too. If you’re growing azaleas in containers, choose a potting mix that’s suitable for acid-loving plants and make sure your pot has drainage holes. You may also want to add a 2 to 3” layer of organic mulch around the base of your plants to lock in moisture levels, so you won’t need to water as much!

After planting azaleas, water your bushes regularly so that soil stays moist but never soggy. Fertilizing your plants from time to time with an organic azalea fertilizer will also boost growth rates and encourage your plants to produce even more flowers. If your plants develop pale leaves, mix chelated iron into the soil in spring and fall to boost your plants’ ability to absorb nutrients in neutral to alkaline soil.

How big do azaleas get

When fully mature, Autumn Bonfire™ Encore® azaleas will grow to about 3’ tall by 3.5’ wide. This size is perfect for small gardens and these plants can also easily be grown in containers too. For larger garden beds, try planting several Encore® azaleas together for a colorful display of flowers throughout the season.

History of Encore® Autumn Bonfire™ Azalea

Azaleas are flowering, evergreen shrubs that belong to the Rhododendron genus. Most rhododendrons and azaleas originally came from Japan, China and the Himalayan mountain range. Over the years, careful breeding by plant specialists has produced a wide range of azalea varieties with different flower colors and bloom sizes, varying heights and other special characteristics.

Encore® Azaleas were first developed in the 1980s by Robert E. Buddy, a well-known plant breeder. At the time, the only available azaleas on the market were spring bloomers, but Robert E. Buddy dreamed of an azalea cultivar that would rebloom in autumn. With careful breeding practices, Buddy developed Encore® azaleas, which bloom in spring and then again in fall for an “encore” of bright flowers. Today, there are over 30 different types of Encore® azaleas! Bonfire™ azaleas are one of the most popular Encore® varieties and are prized for their bright, pure red flowers that look like the flames of a bonfire.

Buying Encore® Azaleas from Cold Creek Nurseries

All our Encore® Azaleas are produced by the original breeders from stem cuttings, not seed, in order to preserve their unique characteristics. Order your Autumn Bonfire™ Encore® Azalea and enjoy season long color from these attractive, low maintenance plants!