Double Play® Candy Corn® spirea is a patented cultivar shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae). It grows up to 2 feet tall and wide with a rounded habit and is low maintenance. This plant was developed by Dr. Tom Ranney of North Carolina State University. It can usually be found in garden centers as Double Play Candy Corn. The genus name comes from the Greek word speira meaning wreath in reference to the showy flower clusters seen on most shrubs in the genus. Double Play® Candy Corn® will do well in average well-drained garden soil in full sun to light shade. It is drought tolerant once established and generally ignored by rabbits and deer. This shrub grows up to 2 feet tall with a similar spread up to 2.5 feet. It can be slow to leaf out in the spring. Be sure not to prune off new growth as you will lose the flowers. New leaves on this plant come out apple red and then become pineapple yellow. The dark purple clusters of flowers add to the contrasting colors in spring to early summer. Foliage color continues to emerge from orange to red through fall giving it 3 seasons of interest. Use this plant in the border, in groups, as a specimen, along walkways or anywhere the color show can be enjoyed. No pruning is necessary to maintain the shape. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Watch for aphids VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Spiraea japonica .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheBuddleja Lo & Behold® 'Blue Chip Jr.'Phlox carolinaSyringa pubescens subsp. pubescens
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Doubly Serrate; Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Colorful leaves emerge red, change to yellow and orange and are 1 to 3 inches long when mature. Serrate to double serrate margins. Somewhat glaucous with downy veins beneath.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Purple flowers are small and tubular with long stamens. They bloom from late spring to early summer with mild fragrance. The inflorescence is a terminal flat-topped corymb or borne in uppermost leaf axils with flower clusters to 8 inches in diameter. Blooms on new wood
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruit is a dry, brown follicle.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Wiry, freely branching, erect stems are brown to reddish-brown, round in cross-section and sometimes hairy.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Follicle
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Patio; Pool/Hardscape; Recreational Play Area; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Butterfly Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Small groups; Specimen