Autumn Bonfire Encore Azalea
Rhododendron ‘Robleza’ ‘Bonfire’ PPIP
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub
Height at Maturity: 3′
Width at Maturity: 3′
Spacing: 2.5′ for solid hedges; 5’+ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Dense, Mounding, Upright
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Glowing True Red
Flower Size: Large, 2.5″
Flowering Period: Mid-Spring, Late Summer, Early Fall, Mid-Fall
Flower Type: Semi-Double
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Dark Green year round
Fragrant Foliage: No
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun, Morning Shade with Evening Sun
Water Needs: Average, lower when established
Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sandy (amended), Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist
Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid to Slightly Acid)
Maintenance / Care: Low, Average
Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer Resistance – more info, Drought (when well established), Clay Soil (heavy clay should be amended), Heat, Humidity, Sun
Description
In 1998, the release of the first reblooming Encore Azalea changed the Azalea world forever. Since then, over 30 Encore varieties have been released. When provided enough sunlight (6 or more hours per day) all varieties bloom in spring and then repeat summer into fall.
No picture we’ve taken of Autumn Bonfire does the flower color justice. One of the most brilliant of all Encore Azaleas, Autumn Bonfire will set your landscape on fire with LOADS of 2.5″ deep true-red semi-double flowers in spring, summer, and fall! You have to see it with your own eyes to appreciate the spectacular glowing color. When in bloom, you can see this shrub from 500 yards away. The flowers stand out nicely against a background of deep green leaves that remain green in winter. Autumn Bonfire is one of the more cold hardy as well as heat tolerant varieties of the Encore Azalea Series growing as far north as USDA Hardiness Zone 6a and as far south as 10b.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide, Autumn Bonfire Encore Azalea is a perfect choice for groupings, mass plantings, low hedges or an accent in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. Its glowing true-red blooms, fast growth rate, and abundance of flowers makes it one of the best Encore selections for growing in larger containers and pots, which can be strategically placed to dress up decks, patios, porches, and other outdoor living spaces. Because they like sun to part shade, Encores do quite well under tall trees and in woodland borders. Butterflies love the flowers, and blooming branches serve very well for cutting to create stunning indoor floral arrangements.
Suggested Spacing: 2.5 feet apart for solid hedges; 5 feet or more apart for space between plants
Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b, where this Encore Azalea variety is not winter hardy outdoors, you can enjoy it in containers that can be moved indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.
Growing Preferences
We’ve been growing Encore Azaleas in our gardens since they were first released in the 1990’s and can say with confidence that when planted right, and in the right spot, Encore Azaleas are among the easiest azaleas easy to grow.
Soil: When planted in the ground, Encore Azaleas adapt well to most soil types. In general, like all other azaleas, the Encores prefer an organically rich, moist but well-drained acidic soil. Constantly soggy or wet soil is problematic for azaleas. Heavy clay, quick-draining sand, or otherwise poor soils are best amended with organic matter or other soil amendments to provide sufficient nutrients, better soil drainage, and/or moisture retention.
In containers, a 50/50 blend of professional potting mix and potting soil is suggested. Make sure the pot has a hole(s) in the bottom that allow for sufficient drainage. As mentioned above, Encore Azaleas do not like a constantly soggy soil.
Sun: Encore Azaleas will grow in sun or part shade. For best flowering and reblooming, we recommend at least 4 hours or more of direct sunlight per day. All-day lightly filtered sun, such as under tall trees, is okay. In regions that experience very hot summers with intense sunlight, Encore Azaleas might appreciate a break from direct sun during the mid afternoon hours.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Encore Azaleas
Planting Encore Azaleas
Pruning Encore Azaleas
Fertilizing Encore Azaleas
Watering Encore Azaleas
The Most Cold Tolerant Encore Azaleas
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I rarely comment online but I made an exception. This was our first purchase from Wilson Bros and we did not know what to expect. The azaleas were delivered quickly and they were all beautiful. We appreciated the careful packaging, and the condition of all six azaleas was exceptional. They have been in the ground now for several weeks and all are doing very well. We were so pleased that we immediately placed another order. Thank you Wilson Bros.—————————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
We purchased a six pack plus 2 more of these azaleas. We were very impressed with the way they were packed. The temperatures were very hot and we were concerned about them shipping in the heat. They arrived in perfect condition! Very beautiful, healthy plants! We can’t wait to see them bloom!———————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
I bought the 6 pack and I am so happy I did. The plants are prettier than the picture showed. Getting alot of compliments from my neighbors. I have purchased several plants from Wilson Brothers and I love them all .i would.highly recommend them!!——————————————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Plants arrived well packaged, healthy, and even happy! I unpacked them and left in the shade a few days until the bed was prepared. They are now in the ground and looking great; I just can’t wait for them to flower!! Will definitely purchase more.—————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review and the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
The Azaleas arrived in wonderful condition. The pots were a bit smashed. The plants went into the ground the next day and seem to love their spot in the yard.
I will definitely order plants again. Thank you!————————————-We wish could deliver all of our plants, the carriers are kind of rough sometimes. But it’s good that they are okay! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review and the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
I will definitely order plants again. Thank you!————————————-We wish could deliver all of our plants, the carriers are kind of rough sometimes. But it’s good that they are okay! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review and the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
This is my first order with Wilson Bros Gardens and I am sold. The quality of these spectacular red blooming azaleas is impressive. The plants arrived exceptionally well-packed with healthy-looking green foliage.—————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! Thanks for the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Our plants arrived carefully packed and in great condition, three actually had either a partially open bloom or an open bloom. All had buds on them and the color is better than what it showed on the computer. All are thriving.——————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
We received our azaleas timely and they were in great shape. Wh have never ordered plants online before but with the Covid 19 shutdowns we had no choice. These plants looked healthier than anything we have bought at a local Lowe’s or Home Depot. We have had them a couple of months and they are growing and still blooming.————————————–Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG
My order arrived promptly and all plants were in perfect condition and ready to plant. They’ve thrived this spring and are still blooming beautiful red blooms as summer begins. Great service, great product!————————————–Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG



















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