Meet Autumn Lilac®
Soft color, strong performance—Autumn Lilac® Encore Azalea blankets the landscape with brilliant lavender blooms accented by darker purple freckles. The flowers glow against tidy evergreen foliage, while the plant’s naturally rounded growth habit makes it effortless to place in front beds, borders, and containers. Bred and selected for cold-hardy tendencies, Autumn Lilac offers reliable rebloom and year-round polish in a compact footprint.
Why you’ll love it
- Lavender elegance: Clear, refined color that reads as a sophisticated light purple azalea up close and a luminous lavender azalea from the curb.
- Encore® rebloom: A strong spring show returns in waves through summer and fall.
- Cold-hardy confidence: Carefully bred for cooler conditions, extending purple Encore Azalea beauty into more gardens.
- Easy fit: The naturally rounded habit stays neat with minimal pruning—perfect for foundations, paths, and patio planters.
Searching for a compact purple Encore azalea with true garden versatility? Autumn Lilac Encore Azalea delivers color, structure, and staying power.
Color & bloom
Expect masses of single, lavender-purple flowers ~2" across, each brushed with darker purple freckles for depth and detail. Blooms arrive in a big spring flush and reappear through warm weather, keeping the show going long after traditional azaleas fade. The glossy evergreen leaves provide crisp contrast that highlights every petal.
Size & habit
- Height: ~3 feet
- Spread: ~3.5 feet
- Form: Dense, rounded, and well-branched—easy to mass, edge, or showcase as a stand-alone accent.
Where it thrives
- Light: 4–6 hours of direct sun; morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal, especially in hotter or reflective sites.
- Soil: Acidic (target pH 5.0–6.0), well-drained, and evenly moist. Amend heavy or alkaline soils with organic matter; consider a soil acidifier as needed.
- Water: Keep consistently moist while establishing; deep water during heat or drought, particularly ahead of bloom cycles.
- Climate: Well-suited to cooler regions thanks to its cold-hardy breeding; a 2–3" mulch layer conserves moisture and moderates soil temperature.
Planting & care
- Plant slightly high: Set the root ball 1–2" above grade to prevent waterlogging.
- Backfill & mulch: Use amended native soil; mulch 2–3" deep, keeping mulch a couple of inches from stems.
- Feed for flowers: In early spring, apply a slow-release, acid-formulating fertilizer for azaleas/rhododendrons; a light post-bloom top-up can support rebloom.
- Prune with timing: Minimal pruning needed. If shaping is desired, prune right after the spring flush to preserve buds for summer/fall flowers.
- Cold-season tips: Maintain even moisture into late fall and keep mulch in place to support vigor and winter foliage quality.
Design ideas
- Foundation finesse: Repeat Autumn Lilac along the front bed for a ribbon of lavender color and evergreen structure.
- Pastel palette: Pair with white hydrangeas, silver grasses, and pale heuchera to amplify the soft hues.
- Contrast compositions: Set near gold or chartreuse evergreens to make the light purple blooms pop.
- Container chic: In porch planters, the compact size and rebloom provide a long-running show.
Autumn Lilac stands out for its freckled blooms, cold-ready genetics, and tidy form—four-season beauty made effortless.
