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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Plants arrived healthy and in fine shape due to the care in packaging – which was much appreciated,
John—————————————————————————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
John—————————————————————————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
Received my order timely, the packaging was unbelievable no damage. The shrub exceeded out expectations, extremely healthy!—————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
I was looking for more mature Azaleas to plant & found Wilson Bro. I’d never purchased plants online but their website offered a bit of comfort…. I bit the bullet, made a sizable purchase. Then I prayed!!!! WOW, all azaleas arrived packed & boxed perfectly moist & on time as promised. They are awesome & landscaper was totally impressed as well. PS… The General Mgr. Of the nursery even responded immediately to an email I sent on a Sunday morning inquiring about delivery…. I’m now a devoted customer… Trust these guys……trust me!!!!!——————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and yhe awesome review! Beth | WBG 🙂
Items arrived in good shape and in timely matter.————————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂
Packed very well, and arrived in great shape.—————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂
Items shipped fast came securely packaged. plenty of blooms,healthy looking plants. very satisfied, I will definitely recommend and use Wilson Brothers gardens again in my future planting.————————————-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
You guys are incredible. Both of my orders came quickly. The plants were stunning on arrival. They are already blooming beautifully. Now the question is will they make it through our zone 6 B winters? I have high hopes!! I will let you know. My landscaper insisted I could not grow Azaleas here!! Please prove her wrong. Thank you again!—————————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Since you’re in Zone 6b, that should be fine for the Bonfire Azalea, which is listed as cold hardy to zone 6a. That said, if temperatures are forecast to drop below 0 degrees F during the first winter it might me a good idea to protect the plants by covering them with a sheet or plastic film until temperatures have come back up. If you use clear plastic don’t leave it over the plants when the sun is shining during the day. White plastic film is better. Once the plant is established it should handle the winters fine down to 5 to 10 below 0 F. I hope this helpful! Beth | WBG 🙂
Thank you! My sister-in-law is so excited to receive her gift of the beautiful azalea. Thanks again!———————————We are so glad you and your sister in law are pleased and we hope she enjoy’s it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
We have been enjoying this very healthy and blooming addition to our garden. Highly recommend Wilson Bros Gardens for excellent quality and choice in azaleas.————————————Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

















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