Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea - 3 Gallon

Double Play Candy Corn Spirea - Colorful Compact Flowering Shrub Multi-Season | 2-3 ft, Single Plant

Experience continuous color from spring through fall with vibrant orange-red new growth, bright yellow mature foliage, and abundant white flower clusters in this compact, reblooming spirea. The Double Play Candy Corn Spirea is a dwarf, fast-growing deciduous shrub that delivers exceptional multi-season interest with stunning tricolor foliage and extended blooming period from spring through summer. This exceptional compact flowering shrub has become a landscape designer's favorite for adding continuous color and texture to foundation plantings and border applications where space is limited but maximum impact is desired. With its distinctive candy corn-colored foliage that emerges orange-red and matures to bright yellow and abundant white flower clusters that rebloom throughout the season, the Double Play Candy Corn Spirea transforms ordinary landscape spaces into vibrant, ever-changing displays. The naturally compact 2-3 foot size and dense branching habit create perfect foundation accents and mass plantings while providing months of spectacular foliage color and fragrant blooms. Unlike traditional spirea varieties with brief bloom periods, these compact reblooming shrubs provide continuous flowers and foliage interest that actually intensifies with proper deadheading and seasonal care.

Why You'll Love the Double Play Candy Corn Spirea

Spectacular Tricolor Foliage: New growth emerges vibrant orange-red, matures to bright golden-yellow, creating stunning candy corn-like color combinations throughout the growing season, making this the perfect choice for adding continuous foliage drama to any landscape.

Extended Reblooming Performance: Plant 2-3 feet apart for mass plantings and they create continuous displays of white flower clusters from late spring through fall with proper deadheading. These compact flowering shrubs have proven exceptional performance in foundation and border applications.

Perfect Compact Size: Thrives in USDA zones 3-8 with excellent cold hardiness and naturally dwarf growth habit that never outgrows small spaces. Once established, these shrubs demonstrate remarkable drought tolerance and require minimal maintenance while providing maximum color impact.

Continuous Multi-Season Interest: A perfect dynamic landscaping choice due to its reblooming flowers, ever-changing foliage colors, and compact form requiring minimal pruning - ideal for modern landscapes requiring maximum seasonal interest with minimal space and maintenance requirements.

Double Play Candy Corn Spirea Details

• Botanical Name: Spiraea 'NCSX2' (Double Play Candy Corn)
• Type: Compact deciduous flowering shrub
• Mature Size: 2–3 ft tall × 2–3 ft wide
• Growth Rate: Fast — up to 1–2 ft per year when young, slowing with maturity
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained; adaptable to various soil types
• Water: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Growing Conditions

Soil Adaptability: Highly adaptable to various soil conditions from sandy to clay-based soils with reasonable drainage. However, well-draining, fertile soil produces optimal growth and most vibrant foliage coloration, while consistently wet conditions can reduce flowering and cause root issues.

Light Requirements: Performs best in full sun for optimal flowering and foliage color development, but tolerates partial shade. Optimal placement in locations receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily results in the most abundant blooming and intense foliage colors.

Hardiness: USDA zones 3-8, making it suitable for most climates across the United States with excellent cold tolerance and good heat tolerance for northern and central regions.

Care Instructions

Watering: Water regularly during establishment, then occasional deep watering during extended dry periods. Established plants are quite drought tolerant but benefit from consistent moisture during peak blooming periods for best flower production.

Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous reblooming throughout the season. Light pruning in late winter or early spring maintains compact shape and promotes vigorous new growth and flowering.

Fertilizing: Apply balanced fertilizer in early spring for optimal growth and flowering. Light mid-season feeding can enhance foliage color intensity and extend blooming period.

Landscaping Uses

Versatile Applications: Double Play Candy Corn Spirea's versatility makes it suitable for: foundation plantings, border edging, mass plantings, container gardening, pollinator gardens, and colorful accent specimens.

Foundation Color Excellence: Creates stunning, compact foundation displays that provide continuous seasonal interest and perfect scale for residential landscapes, unlike larger flowering shrubs that quickly outgrow foundation spaces while providing less reliable color performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I plant Double Play Candy Corn Spirea for foundation plantings? Plant 2-3 feet apart for foundation use or mass plantings, allowing room for mature spread. The compact nature and moderate growth rate make spacing straightforward without future overcrowding concerns.

How long does the blooming period last and what encourages reblooming? Initial bloom occurs in late spring, with continuous reblooming through summer and into fall when spent flowers are regularly deadheaded. Peak foliage color occurs during spring and fall growth periods.

Is Double Play Candy Corn Spirea cold hardy and does it attract pollinators? Yes, it's extremely cold hardy (zones 3-8) and the abundant white flower clusters are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects throughout the extended blooming season.