Spiraea Double Play® Candy Corn®

A Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub, Spiraea Double Play® Candy Corn® is a visually striking, low-growing deciduous shrub that brings a kaleidoscope of color to your garden throughout the growing season. Reaching only about 1½ to 2 ½ feet in height and width, this compact shrub is perfect for adding vibrant color to small spaces.

The foliage of Double Play Candy Corn is a dynamic blend of colors that change with the seasons. In early spring, new growth emerges in a bright candy apple red, transitioning to a brilliant pineapple yellow as the leaves mature. Throughout the growing season, new growth continues to appear in a striking bright orange, providing a constant display of changing hues. This vivid foliage is complemented by clusters of dark purple flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer, adding even more color to your landscape.

This variety of Spiraea japonica, commonly known as Japanese spirea or Japanese meadowsweet, has a compact, mounded habit that makes it ideal for use in small garden spaces. Its vibrant foliage and blooms make it a superb specimen or focal point plant. When massed in the landscape, it serves beautifully as ground cover, edging, or a front-of-the-border plant, creating a stunning visual impact.

Double Play Candy Corn is a tough and resilient shrub, thriving in Zones 4a-8b. It's known for its easy-care nature, performing well in sunny to partly sunny locations with moist, well-draining soil. This shrub is adaptable to average to loamy soil types and shows good tolerance to drought and heat once established. It also resists common diseases and is typically left alone by deer and rabbits, making it a low-maintenance choice for any garden.

With its naturally rounded shape, Double Play Candy Corn requires minimal pruning to maintain its form. However, a light trim after the flowers fade will keep it looking neat and encourage the emergence of new, colorful growth. This light maintenance makes it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking vibrant beauty with minimal effort.

So, brighten up a small garden, create a colorful border, or add a dynamic ground cover with Double Play Candy Corn that offers a unique combination of striking foliage and beautiful blooms. Its robust nature and vivid seasonal display make it a standout addition to any garden landscape.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs