Autumn Royalty® Encore® Azalea

Close up of purple flower belonging to a autumn royalty encore azalea

Autumn Royalty® Encore® Azalea

/
Size
Select Quantity
  • In stock, ready to ship
  • Inventory on the way
  • Ships in 2-3 business days
  • Complimentary 30 Day Warranty
  • Buy direct from the grower, not a drop shipper
  • Family owned farm since 1980
  • You're good to grow this in Zone X

 Rich Purple Blooms With Reliable Repeat Flowering

Autumn Royalty Azalea delivers bold color from spring through fall

Autumn Royalty Azalea is a broadleaf evergreen shrub known for its deep purple flowers and its ability to bloom more than once a year. It is part of the Encore Azalea series, which was developed to extend the traditional azalea bloom season. This variety grows with a dense, rounded habit and provides year round greenery even when not in bloom.

Why You’ll Love the Autumn Royalty® Azalea

The Autumn Royalty Encore® was voted the Azalea of the year in 2004, by the American Rhododendron Society not only for its appearance and the longevity of its blooms, but with how hardy this Encore® variety is. This royally beautiful azalea was introduced as part of the Encore Azalea breeding program, which focused on creating azaleas that rebloom reliably while maintaining strong evergreen foliage. Gardeners and landscapers often use this plant as a foundation shrub, hedge, or colorful focal point in mixed beds. Its popularity comes from the combination of vibrant purple flowers, repeat blooming cycles, and its ability to perform well in a wide range of climates.

Autumn Royalty Azalea will typically reach a mature height and width of around 4-5 feet, making it suitable for both small & large landscapes. The flowers are a rich royal purple with a classic azalea form, and blooming can occur in spring, summer, and fall under proper conditions. The evergreen foliage remains dark green throughout the year and provides structure even when the plant is not flowering. This variety is also known for good cold tolerance compared to many traditional azaleas.

Autumn Royalty® Azalea Care Guide

This azalea performs best in partial sun, especially with morning sunlight and some afternoon shade to protect blooms and foliage. It prefers acidic, well drained soil that retains some moisture without becoming soggy. Regular watering is important during establishment, while mature plants benefit from consistent moisture and a layer of mulch to protect roots. Light pruning after a major bloom cycle often helps maintain shape and encourages future flowering.

  • Water deeply and regularly for the first 6 months after planting. Aim for 2 inches of water twice a week except after rain
  • These plants love our Florida weather, but they can grow all over the country! The Autumn Royalty Azalea thrives in USDA hardiness zones 6-10
  • Here on the nursery, we’ve found these azalea grow at their best when they receive 4-6 hours of direct sunlight.
  • Pro Gardener Tip: Don’t feed your azaleas after August! The best time to apply fertilizer is in the summer or after they bloom in the spring time

Why Buy From Perfect Plants?

Buying the Autumn Royalty Azalea from Perfect Plants means you are getting a healthy plant nurtured by experts who understand proper care from early rooting to shipping. Purchasing directly from a grower ensures better quality, stronger root systems, and plants that are ready to thrive in your landscape.

Check out all our Azalea shrubs for sale. Browse all our flowering shrubs for sale.

 

In our experience at the nursery, Autumn Royalty® performs best when you treat it like a “featured shrub,” not an afterthought. Give it a clean backdrop, a little breathing room, and a spot you’ll actually see from the porch or driveway. If you’re designing a bed, plan for easy access around the plant (for mulching and light touch-ups) and keep it out of tight corners where air stays still and the soil tends to stay overly wet.

  • Front entry anchors: Use a matched pair at steps or gates for instant curb appeal.
  • Foundation “repeat” planting: Repeat every few windows to tie the house line together with season long color.
  • Low evergreen screen: Plant about 3' on center for a dense, blooming hedg
  • Walkway massing: Group in small drifts along paths so the purple reads from the street.
  • Patio containers: Great for decks and entries—choose a roomy pot with strong drainage.

Autumn Royalty® Azalea is a broadleaf evergreen shrub admired for its rich purple blooms and dependable repeat flowering from spring through fall. As part of the Encore Azalea series, it was bred to extend the traditional azalea season while maintaining dense growth and year round foliage. Its bold color, strong performance, and adaptability make it a favorite for landscapes across the country.

  • Mature size works well in many landscapes as this azalea typically grows to about 4 to 5 feet tall and wide with a dense, rounded habit.
  • Deep royal purple flowers create a bold impact with classic azalea blooms that appear in spring and return through summer and fall.
  • Evergreen foliage provides year round interest since the dark green leaves remain attractive even when the plant is not in bloom.
  • Partial sun promotes the best flowering and growth with ideal performance when the plant receives six hours of direct sunlight and some afternoon shade.
  • Strong cold tolerance expands its growing range allowing it to thrive reliably in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 10.
  • Low maintenance care makes it easy to grow as it prefers acidic well drained soil, and regular watering especially during establishment.

At Perfect Plants Nursery, we stand behind every tree, shrub, and flower we grow. Every order is protected by our complimentary 30-day plant guarantee, ensuring your plants arrive healthy and ready to thrive. Unlike many online nurseries, Perfect Plants ships directly from our family-run farm, so you’re backed by growers who care about your success long after your plants leave our nursery beds. Grow with confidence knowing your investment is protected from the start.

How big do Encore Autumn Royalty get?

Autumn Royalty® Encore® Azaleas grow into upright shrubs that typically reach 4-5 feet tall and 4 feet wide at maturity. Their larger size makes them perfect for foundation plantings, evergreen backdrops, or vibrant flowering hedges. When you start with a strong, well-rooted plant, like those from Perfect Plants, you can expect steady growth and abundant seasonal color.

Do Autumn Royalty Azaleas like sun or shade?

Autumn Royalty® performs best in full sun to part shade and should receive 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. More sun encourages heavier blooming through spring, summer, and fall. They’ll tolerate light shade, but deep shade can reduce flower production. Choose a spot with morning sun and afternoon protection in warmer climates for optimal performance.

What do Encore Azaleas look like in winter?

Encore® Azaleas, including Autumn Royalty®, are broadleaf evergreens, so they hold their foliage all year long. In winter, the leaves remain on the plant, though they may deepen to a bronze-green color in colder climates. The shrub keeps a full, structured look through the off-season, offering reliable evergreen interest long after the blooms fade.

Do Encore Azaleas come back every year?

Yes, Encore® Azaleas come back year after year. They’re perennial, evergreen, and hardy in USDA Zones 6-10, meaning they survive winter and continue growing each spring. With proper watering, soil, and sunlight, they reward gardeners with repeat blooms and dependable landscape performance.

How to keep Encore Azaleas blooming?

To maximize reblooming, plant in sunny locations, keep the soil slightly acidic and well-drained, and avoid heavy pruning after midsummer, since buds for the next bloom cycle form on new growth. Regular watering during dry spells and a spring application of acid-loving plant fertilizer, like our Liquid Azalea Fertilizer, helps fuel continuous flowering. With a little care, Autumn Royalty® can produce vibrant purple blooms across three seasons a year. The more sunlight, the more blooms!

Botanical Name
Rhododendron hybrid 'Conlec'
sun-light

Sunlight
Partial Sun / Partial Shade

Foliage Color
Evergreen

Flower Color
Purple

Mature Width
4-5 ft

Mature Height
4-5 ft.

Growing Zones 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

map-img
Customer Reviews
0.0 Be the first to review this item
5 ★
0% 
0
4 ★
0% 
0
3 ★
0% 
0
2 ★
0% 
0
1 ★
0% 
0
Write a Review Ask a Question