Meet Autumn Monarch™
Commanding yet graceful, Autumn Monarch® Encore Azalea brings structure and lively color to the landscape. This robust, tall variety features light green foliage and striking, ruffled semi-double blooms that open in nuanced shades of orange-pink with fine red specks—a look that reads “sunset” from the curb and reveals painterly detail up close. With reliable rebloom from spring into fall, Autumn Monarch shines as a background anchor for borders, screens, and foundation lines.
Why you’ll love it
- Tall, landscape-ready presence: Naturally upright to about 5' tall × 4' wide, ideal as a backdrop or rhythm plant.
- Encore® rebloom: A big spring flush followed by repeat color in summer and fall.
- Refined foliage: Light green, evergreen leaves that brighten plantings year-round.
- Ruffled flowers with depth: Semi-double petals in orange-pink tones with subtle red speckling for designer-level interest.
Looking for a right-sized background shrub with season-spanning color? Autumn Monarch Encore Azalea delivers structure and bloom in one tidy package.
Color & bloom
Expect masses of semi-double flowers ~2.5" across. Petals open in warm pink with orange-pink overtones and delicate red freckles, creating dimension without overwhelming nearby plants. After spring’s show, additional bloom cycles carry color well into fall.
Size & habit
- Height: ~5 feet
- Spread: ~4 feet
- Form: Upright, full, and well-branched—tailor-made for background roles, layered borders, and soft screening.
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, evenly moist. Amend heavy or alkaline soils with organic matter and a soil acidifier if needed.
- Water: Keep consistently moist during establishment; deep water during heat or drought, particularly ahead of bloom cycles.
- Climate: Broadly adaptable; apply 2–3" mulch to conserve moisture and moderate 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 so you don’t remove developing buds for summer/fall flowers.
- Seasonal tune-ups: Refresh mulch annually, monitor soil pH, and water during prolonged dry spells to maintain foliage quality and bloom performance.
Design ideas
- Layered borders: Use Autumn Monarch as the taller backdrop behind lower mounded shrubs and perennials.
- Foundation rhythm: Repeat at intervals along long façades to create structure and a consistent bloom line.
- Warm palette pairings: Combine with gold or chartreuse evergreens to make the orange-pink flowers glow.
- Soft screens: Plant in staggered groups to blur property lines or mask utilities with color and texture.
- Container statements (large pots): Where height is welcome, use as a focal thriller with trailing companions.
When your planting plan calls for height, polish, and long-running color, Autumn Monarch answers with architectural form and ruffled blooms that glow from spring to fall—an elegant, hard-working backdrop for today’s landscapes.
