I was so excited to add this to my garden but I am really struggling with this plant. As a matter of fact, it’s the second one I’ve planted this season, as the first one died. I can’t figure out what’s going on either, because I planted a regular double play right beside it and it’s doing great. I have cut it back in hopes that it bounces back but I’m not very confident.
Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea Spiraea japonica
- Part Sun to Sun
- Sun
- Early Spring
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall

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Details
Features
Your search for truly colorful landscape plants ends here!
Meet the newest and most colorful Proven Winners spirea, Double Play® Candy Corn®. The show starts in early spring when the new growth emerges bright candy apple red. As it matures, it turns pineapple yellow, and the new growth continues to emerge bright orange all season. Top it off with dark purple flowers in late spring/early summer, and you've got a display you really have to see to believe. Be sure to click the image tab below to see just how showy this low-maintenance spiraea is!
Best SellerFoliage InterestDeadheading Not NecessaryResists:DeerCharacteristics
Plant Type:ShrubShrub Type:DeciduousHeight Category:ShortGarden Height:18 - 24 InchesSpacing:18 - 30 InchesSpread:18 - 30 InchesFlower Colors:PurpleFoliage Colors:OrangeFoliage Colors:RedFoliage Colors:YellowFoliage Shade:Pineapple yellowHabit:MoundedContainer Role:FillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:Part Sun to SunLight Requirement:SunThe optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Maintenance Category:EasyBlooms On:New WoodBloom Time:Early SummerBloom Time:Late SpringHardiness Zones:4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8bWater Category:AverageUses:Border PlantUses:Edging PlantUses:LandscapeUses:Mass PlantingUses:Specimen or Focal PointMaintenance Notes:Spirea is a popular plant because it is blissfully low maintenance, and Double Play Candy Corn is no exception. It naturally takes on a nice, rounded habit without pruning. If you wish, you can give it a trim after the flowers fade, which will encourage even more colorful new growth.
Double Play® spiraea are typically ignored by deer and even rabbits, and are quite drought tolerant after a year or two in the ground.
Fun Facts:Though you wouldn't guess it by looking at it, spiraea is closely related to roses and raspberries.
Double Play® Candy Corn® Spiraea japonica 'NCSX1' USPP 28,313, Can 6,176 -
20 Reviews
5134332113Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.-
Herminia, British Columbia, Canada, 24 weeks ago
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Love love these shrubs! “Everything and the kitchen sink!” I bought 45 of these plants. Love the fact it’s all that and a bang of color. From the growth of being yellow, new growth being burgundy red and it flowers! OMG! And it’s is a “dwarf” size to accommodate most landscapes. People are literally driving by my property amazed at the POP of color because of these plants! Highly recommend. Also, some comments were about the color…if you are planting in a shade, yes it will be lime green, but if planted in sun (as recommended) they are beautiful in gold/yellow and red colors.
TmkNH, New Hampshire, United States, 28 weeks ago -
We have many Candy Corn spireas planted in our yard. It’s the best. It’s a great size. The color is spectacular! It’s a winner all the way around. Love everything Proven Winners!!
Julie M. Borkenhagen, Wisconsin, United States, 34 weeks ago -
Candy Corn is a real show stopper! Foliage is fabulous nearly all year long and flowers are just icing on the cake! People walking my neighborhood stop and stare! Four season interest great smallish shrub!
Terry Meier, Oklahoma, United States, 35 weeks ago -
Loved these shrubs planted 6 of these in New landscape. They were beautiful 1st year. They did come back up and were gorgeous lime green in early spring. By September leaves were no longer bright colors They were just green. Resembled regular spiria And did not fill out. Disappointed
marie elstun, Kentucky, United States, 1 year ago -
I started growing this plant in a container on my building steps in 2020. I live in a city and have no access to a regular garden, so I started a "container garden," on the steps of my two-family building. I have been doing this for many years and every year I take a chance and buy a few "experiments." I always have to be aware of how large the plant will get because we have to walk up and down those same stairs! This is my favorite of all my plants (uh oh, don't tell the other 20!). It gives me utter delight just to look at it. It looks exactly like the photos. It grows easily without aggravation. All my stairway plants have to grow in burning hot direct SW sun, because that's the exposure I have. Spiraea, at least this variety, has done spectacularly.
mARIA bRANT, New York, United States, 1 year ago -
We have had the plants for about a year and a half now and I cannot help but stare at them as I walk by. In zone 5, in mid April, it’s just an amazing show of orange with a mix of reds and yellows. It’s just gorgeous. I’m going to look for more this year!
Erin, New Hampshire, United States, 1 year ago -
In my zone 7b garden in central Maryland, we planted this beautiful Candy Corn spirea shrub next to the front door. It glows most of the year. There is no way to overlook it. We love it. We're trying to find places to plant more. It performs exactly as described for us.
Dawn Resch, Maryland, United States, 1 year ago -
I planted my spirea candy corn last fall and through frosts and freezes, it has remained happy as a lark. I already love it and haven't even seen it bloom.
Linda, Georgia, United States, 2 years ago -
Gorgeous colors. Attractive leaf shape. After only about 8 weeks of being planted, it’s near full (predicted) size.
Laura, New Jersey, United States, 3 years ago
7 More colors
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