Double Play Candy Corn® Spirea

Let's Grow

About Double Play® Candy Corn Spirea

Also known as Japanese meadowsweet, spirea are hardy plants that can grow in a range of conditions, including poor soil and full sun to part shade.Hardy and adaptable, Spirea plants are also resistant to most pests and they’re cold hardy too. When ‘Goldflame’ spirea was first released, it was hugely popular among growers, who reveled in its brightly colored foliage and brilliant flowers.Since its release, plant breeders have been hard at work improving ‘Goldflame’ spirea so it offers even more to the home gardener and they eventually developed Double Play Candy Corn® spirea.

Double Play® Candy Corn has everything you loved about ‘Goldflame’ spirea, but it is an improved cultivar that will bring even more color to your landscape design.  This exciting new plant produces a veritable rainbow of leaf colors that shift from yellows to chartreuse green to deep oranges and reds throughout the growing season.  Even better, plants bloom frilly clusters of pinkish-purple flowers in summer, which pollinators can’t resist.

Double Play Candy Corn® Spirea
Botanical Name	Spiraea japonica 'NCSX1'
Plant Hardiness	Zone 4-7
Mature Height	1 ½ to 2 ½’
Mature Width	1 ½ to 2’
Sun Needs	Full Sun, Partial Shade
Does Not Ship To	AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, PR

Whether you have a small or large garden or just a few growing container to keep plants in, you can always find space for spirea.  These compact plants only grow to about 2’ tall and they are without a doubt some of the top flowers to keep if you love lots of bold garden color!

Special features:

• Vibrant leaves hold color throughout growing season
• Flowers attract bees and other pollinators
• Great for container growing
• Drought tolerant
• Disease resistant

How to care for spirea

Double Play® Candy Corn spirea are tough, “plant it and forget it” type plants that need very little care once they are established.  Drought hardy and versatile, these plants can be grown in your garden or in containers or planter boxes. Plant them on their own, in a neat line or use them in mixed planting arrangements.  However, you choose to grow your spirea plants, just provide your plants with enough light and space plants at least 18 to 24” apart to give them enough room to grow.

When in bloom, Double Play® Candy Corn flowers are very attractive to pollinators and a perfect addition to butterfly gardens.  Additionally, because the flowers are sterile, they won’t become invasive.

When to plant spirea

Whenever possible, plant spirea in autumn to give your plant’s roots plenty of time to grow before the spring season.

Where to plant spirea

Double Play® Candy Corn spirea can be grown just about anywhere, including mixed ornamental beds, window boxes, containers and sloping hillsides.  Plants are drought-resistant and they need minimal water once established; however, they don’t like soggy soil. 

Double Play® Candy Corn spirea can be grown in full sun or part shade, but the more light your plants receive, the more colors they’ll produce!

How to plant spirea

To plant spirea, simply dig a hole that’s as deep as your plant’s pot and twice as wide.Sink the plant’s root ball into the hole to the same depth that it was growing in its container and then backfill the hole with earth. If you want to, consider amending the soil with a bit of compost prior to planting and add mulch around the base of your plant to keep weeds at bay.

Growing spirea in pots

Double Play® Candy Corn spirea also grows beautifully in containers and window boxes.  Choose a pot that is at least 6 to 8” wider than your plant’s root ball and make sure whatever container you use has plenty of drainage holes.  Select a well-draining potting mix and consider adding in a bit of extra perlite to improve drainage even further.

Spirea are not heavy feeding plants, but they can benefit from the occasional dose of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.

How tall do spirea plants grow?

Mature Double Play® Candy Corn spirea will grow about 2’ tall by 2’ wide.  While it isn’t strictly necessary, you can rejuvenate your plant with an annual pruning in early spring by trimming back stems by about ¼ and clipping away any dead or broken branches.

History of Double Play® Candy Corn Spirea

Spiraea japonica is native to Asia where it grows naturally along stream banks and roadways. A member of the rose family, this plant has been kept as an ornamental for generations and it was first introduced to the United States in 1870.

Double Play® Candy Corn spirea is a recent addition to the gardening world and it was developed by plant breeder Thomas Ranney who wanted to create a spirea variety that was not invasive and impressively colorful.  His hard work finally paid off with  Double Play® Candy Corn spirea, which has been delighting gardeners since its release with its showy leaves and darling flowers.

Buying Double Play® Candy Corn Spirea at Cold Creek Nurseries

All of our plants come from the original breeders to ensure the quality of the plant is maintained.When you order from us, you’ll receive a healthy and vibrant Double Play® Candy Corn spirea that’s ready to be planted. From small space gardens to big, in-ground beds, this adaptable plant will display color in the garden throughout the season.