Autumn Carnation Azaleas

Description

• Autumn Carnation grows to about 4.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide at maturity, with an open, spreading form. Its dark green, ovate-shaped leaves form a backdrop for the pink, 2.5 inch semi-double blooms that open in the spring and then again in midsummer. The leaves remain on the shrub through the winter.

Culture and Climate

• This Encore azalea grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. It flowers most profusely with full sun in the morning and filtered shade to protect it from the hottest part of the day in the afternoon. Autumn Carnation requires well-draining, moist, organically rich soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. It will not survive well in areas that flood because of its shallow roots.

Maintenance

• Azaleas need moist soil for optimum growth, so they might require water during times of drought. Water in the summer when the top 1-to-2 inches of soil around the plant dries, from the base out beyond its canopy, to a depth of 6-to-8 inches. In rich soils the azalea might not need any fertilizer. If it sits in poorer soil, however, fertilize annually in early spring by sprinkling 3 tablespoons of 12-4-8 fertilizer per 10 square feet of area on the ground around the shrubs and watering deeply. Autumn Carnation requires no pruning but benefits from the removal of dead or broken branches when you see them.

Landscape Considerations

• Autumn Carnation is a mid-sized azalea. It works well alone as a specimen plant, but it makes more of a statement when massed along a path or foundation. Together, they can also provide a backdrop for smaller plants if you wish to layer and contrast colors. In winter, the evergreen leaves provide a flash of life in the cooler zones that are filled primarily with deciduous plants.