Double Play Doozie® is a deciduous cultivar of the S. japonica shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae) bred by Dr Tom Ranney of NCSU. It is a compact species that grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide and blooms all season. Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained average garden soil. It is adaptable to different soil types, is drought-tolerant once established, deer-resistant and low-maintenance. Deadhead blooms to encourage continued flowering. In spring, clusters of sterile reddish-pink flowers with long stamens appear and continue into fall. The leaves emerge dark red, mature to green and turn yellow in the fall, providing 3 seasons of interest. Use this spirea as a specimen, in small groups or a mass planting, in a shrub border, low hedge, foundation planting or naturalized area. Plant it in a large container on a patio or alongside a walkway. Use it in a cottage, butterfly, pollinator, rock, drought-tolerant or coastal garden. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Common insect problems include aphids, redbanded leaf roller, white-lined leaf roller, armored scale and soft scale. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
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.'Hydrangea arborescens Invincibelle® GroupViburnum x Yardline® 'NCVX5'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
New leaves emerge dark red, mature to green and turn yellow in fall.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Reddish pink flowers with long stamens appear in clusters in late spring and continue to bloom through fall. Flowers are sterile so no seeds are produced.