Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea - 3 Gallon

Transform your landscape with a color show that lasts all season long.

The Double Play Candy Corn® Spirea is a compact, deciduous flowering shrub that delivers what other spireas can’t: vivid, ever-changing foliage color paired with clusters of bright purple flowers. In spring, new growth emerges a brilliant candy-apple red, transitioning to a vibrant yellow-gold through summer, and finishing with rich orange tones in fall. Dense clusters of purple-pink blooms appear in late spring, creating a stunning contrast against the fiery foliage. This multi-season performer thrives with minimal care, forming a mounded shape that works beautifully in borders, mass plantings, or as a colorful foundation shrub. With deer resistance, drought tolerance, and wide adaptability, Double Play Candy Corn® Spirea is one of the easiest shrubs you’ll ever grow, while delivering nonstop color from spring through fall.

Why You'll Love the Double Play Candy Corn® Spirea

Season-Long Color: Unlike ordinary spireas, Candy Corn® delivers three-season interest: red new growth, golden summer foliage, and orange fall tones, all accented by purple blooms.

Compact & Versatile: Naturally mounding to about 18–24 inches tall and wide, it fits perfectly into borders, foundation plantings, or as a low hedge.

Low-Maintenance Beauty: Heat-tolerant, drought-resistant once established, and deer-resistant—ideal for homeowners who want high impact with little effort.

Pollinator-Friendly Blooms: Bright purple flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators, adding life to your garden while enhancing its beauty.

Double Play Candy Corn® Spirea Details

• Botanical Name: Spiraea japonica ‘NCSX1’

• Type: Deciduous flowering shrub

• Mature Size: 18–24 in. tall × 18–30 in. wide

• Growth Rate: Moderate

• Light: Full sun for best color (6+ hours daily)

• Soil: Average, well-drained soil; tolerant of clay and a variety of soil types

• Water: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–9

Growing Conditions

Soil Adaptability: Tolerates a wide range of soils, including clay, provided drainage is good. Prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions.

Light Requirements: Full sun is best for vivid foliage color and abundant flowering. Partial sun tolerated, though foliage color may be less intense.

Hardiness: Zones 4–9, making it adaptable across most of the U.S., from northern regions to the South.

Care Instructions

Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. Once established, only occasional supplemental watering is needed in prolonged drought.

Pruning: After flowering, trim lightly to encourage fresh colorful growth and maintain shape. In late winter or early spring, prune back old wood to rejuvenate the shrub.

Fertilizing: Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring for best foliage color and bloom production.

Landscaping Uses

Versatile Applications: Double Play Candy Corn® is perfect for:

• low hedges

• foundation plantings

• colorful borders

• mass plantings for bold seasonal color

• pollinator gardens

Strategic Placement: Plant along walkways, patios, or garden borders where its changing foliage can be admired throughout the season. Use in mass groupings for dramatic landscape impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I plant Double Play Candy Corn® Spirea for a hedge?
Space plants about 2–3 feet apart for a continuous hedge effect, or 3+ feet apart for individual spacing in borders.

When does Double Play Candy Corn® Spirea bloom?
It blooms in late spring to early summer with purple-pink flower clusters, while foliage continues to provide vibrant color all season.

Is Double Play Candy Corn® Spirea deer-resistant?
Yes, it is naturally deer-resistant and also highly tolerant of urban conditions.

Can I grow Double Play Candy Corn® Spirea in containers?
Absolutely! Its compact size and colorful foliage make it an excellent choice for decorative patio containers.