Azalea Autumn Empress

Autumn Empress Encore Azalea

Azalea ‘Autumn Empress’ is a vigorous Encore® evergreen azalea valued for its large, rich pink flowers and dependable reblooming habit. It flowers heavily in spring, then continues to bloom summer through fall, providing long-lasting color and strong garden presence.

This cultivar develops a dense, upright to rounded habit with dark green, glossy evergreen foliage, giving it excellent year-round structure. ‘Autumn Empress’ is one of the larger-growing Encore azaleas, making it well suited for use as a specimen, screen, or focal shrub.

Key features


Width: 5–6 ft



Height: 5–6 ft



Flower color: Rich medium to deep pink



Bloom time: Spring, summer, and fall (reblooming)



Foliage: Dark green, evergreen



Form: Dense, upright to rounded



Life cycle: Evergreen shrub



Growing conditions


Sun: Full sun to part shade (best reblooming with more sun)



Soil: Acidic, moist, well-drained; rich in organic matter



Water: Moderate; consistent moisture preferred



Hardiness: USDA Zones 7a–10a



Azalea Group: Encore® Azalea



Landscape use


Specimen shrubs



Evergreen screens and hedges



Large foundation plantings



Mixed shrub borders



Notes


One of the largest Encore azaleas, excellent for screening



Increased sun exposure improves repeat flowering



Generally deer resistant



Mulch to maintain even soil moisture



Prune after spring bloom only to preserve rebloom cycles

Plant type

Broadleaf Evergreen, Flowering evergreen shrub

Height

5-6'

Width

5-6'

Hardiness zones

6–9

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Fall, Spring

Leaf color

Dark Green

Fall color

Dark Green

Attracts

Butterflies

Soil

Loamy

Landscape use

Border, Mass Planting

Shape

Oval/Rounded, Rounded

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No