Spirea is a hardy deciduous shrub known for exceptional drought tolerance and adaptability to poor soils. These low-maintenance plants typically bloom in spring with clustered flowers and thrive in zones 3-8. Choose spirea for problem areas where other plants struggle, or use as colorful edging and groundcover.

Double Play® Red Spirea

Double Play® Red Spiraea japonica 'SMNSJMFR' USPP 26,993

Proven Winners®

Color-Changing Foliage Shifts from Burgundy-Red Spring Leaves to Deep Green Summer Tones
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 3-8
Grows 2-3 ft Tall, 1-4 ft Wide
Showy Red, Pink Blooms From Late Spring to Late Summer
Pollinator-Friendly Shrub

$26¹⁴

Shipping calculated at checkout.

In Stock

Enter your ZIP code to check shipping availability.

Plant Size

Quart Container #1 Container #3 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: For the best flower production and the most intense foliage color, plant in full sun, which means at least 6 hours of direct light. While it can handle partial shade, you will notice the red new growth looks less vibrant and the plant becomes a bit leggy.
Soil: This shrub prefers well drained soil that is rich in organic matter but is famously adaptable to different types. If you have heavy clay, mix in some compost to improve drainage, or if your soil is sandy, add peat moss to help hold onto moisture.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, provide about one inch of water per week to help the root system get established. Once mature, Double Play Red Spirea is quite drought tolerant, though inconsistent watering during extreme heat can lead to smaller flower clusters and scorched leaf edges. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to maintain that lush, healthy look.

Pruning Tips

This variety blooms on new wood, so the best time to prune is in late winter or very early spring before new growth starts. Think of it like a refreshing haircut; shearing the plant back by about one third encourages a flush of that signature red foliage and more abundant blooms. You can also lightly deadhead spent flowers in summer to encourage a secondary wave of color later in the season.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring as the new leaves begin to emerge. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this can force tender new growth that won't have time to harden off before the first frost. This late season growth is susceptible to winter kill, which can damage the overall structure of your shrub.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Compact/Dwarf, Flowering, Fall Color/Interest, Deer-resistant, Disease resistant, Attracts pollinators, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, Hedge/Screen, Container Friendly
Sunlight	Full sun, Partial shade
Height	2-3 ft
Width	1-4 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Growth Rate	Moderate
Blooms In	Spring, Summer
Flower Color	Red, Pink
Foliage Color	Yellow, Other, Red, Green
Fragrant	Yes
Suitable Space	Indoors, Outdoors
Botanical Name	Double Play® Red Spiraea japonica 'SMNSJMFR' USPP 26,993
Species	japonica
Cultivar	SMNSJMFR
Class	Magnoliopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Do you have a garden trouble spot? Probably. Most of us do. Do you want a beautiful plant to fill it? Double Play® Red Spirea (Double Play® Red Spiraea japonica 'SMNSJMFR' PP 26,993) might be the solution that you're looking for. Spirea is a great garden plant. It is an ideal plant for difficult areas in your landscape where you have not had any luck with other plants. Drought? Wind? Poor soil? Salt spray? Double Play® Red doesn't bat an eye. This is one of the easiest shrubs you can grow.

Double Play is covered in color-changing leaves - it starts out with burgundy-red leaves in the spring that turn to deep green during the summer and on through the fall. In the spring it blooms with tons of clusters of true red flower heads - the only true red of any Spirea. The beautiful flowers attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds setting your garden in motion all summer long.

Double Play® Red doesn't require any pruning to keep its nice mounded shape and resists deer and disease. Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 3 through 8 and handle cold and sun very well! Space-saving and low growing, these spread to up to 4 feet in mature width and rarely grow over 3 feet in height.

Planting and Application:

Small-sized shrubs, Japanese Spirea add vivid color all growing season to landscapes large and small! Use as colorful edging along beds and borders, and dress up a Cottage garden and Pollinator border! Add a burst of curb appeal along your front foundation hedges or on either side of the steps leading to your front porch!

Ideal as groundcover for large areas in the sun, top retaining walls and hard-to-mow slopes with easy care ornamental shrubs! Use as facer plants to dress up the bare legs of larger shrubs and as fringe around tree trunks! Perfectly sized for containers and planters, any seating area, outdoor room, porch, patio and even balcony can enjoy these rosy red blossoms and tidy mounded flowering shrubs!

True Carmine-Red Flowers
Easy Care Shrub For Trouble Spots
Stunning Spring & Fall Color
Mounds of Green Foliage
Attracts Pollinators, Low Hedges, Containers, Edging & Specimens

#ProPlantTips for Care:

New and improved Japanese Spiraea are highly adaptable and low-maintenance! Producing its best color in full sun, Spirea can tolerate part sun. Spireas have a tolerance to most well-drained soils, are highly adaptable to moisture levels once established and have a wide range of sun needs! Once established, they are also drought tolerant. It is recommended that you shear right after flowering since deadheading leads to additional blooms later in the season.

Full Sun & Partial Shade
Moderate Moisture
Adaptable to Most Well-Drained Soil Types
Shear/Deadhead/Prune After Flowering
Reblooming & Cold Hardy

This is one vigorous, easy-care shrub! Bright and colorful with 3 seasons of interest, don't let that tough spot in your landscape be a burden any longer. Order your own Double Play® Red Spirea today from NatureHills.com!

Explore More from Nature Hills

The Double Play® Red Spirea is an excellent addition to any collection of flowering shrubs, and like other spirea bushes, it's part of the proven winners® line known for reliable performance. This variety joins the ranks of low maintenance plants that provide season-long color with minimal care. For helpful growing tips, check out our guide on Timing for Pruning Flowering Shrubs and discover more options in 5 Low-Maintenance Flowering Shrubs That Bloom All Summer.

Free shipping

On all orders over $199
Plant Sentry™

Compliant guaranteed
Easy returns

Hassle free returns policy
Live Chat

Talk to a real person

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a spirea?

Spirea is a hardy deciduous shrub known for exceptional drought tolerance and adaptability to poor soils. These low-maintenance plants typically bloom in spring with clustered flowers and thrive in zones 3-8. Choose spirea for problem areas where other plants struggle, or use as colorful edging and groundcover.

What hardiness zones is Double Play® Red Spirea suitable for?

Double Play® Red Spirea thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8, handling both cold temperatures and full sun conditions exceptionally well. This makes it suitable for most regions across the continental United States. Shop at Nature Hills for this reliable, low-maintenance shrub that performs in challenging garden spots.

Does Double Play® Red Spirea need full sun or can it tolerate partial shade?

Double Play® Red Spirea performs best in full sun conditions. While it can tolerate some partial shade, full sun exposure ensures the most vibrant leaf color changes and abundant red blooms. For optimal performance in zones 3-8, plant in a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

What size container will my Double Play® Red Spirea arrive in?

Double Play® Red Spirea typically arrives in a 1-gallon container when shipped. This compact shrub reaches 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide at maturity, so the nursery container gives it room to establish roots. Plant it after your last frost date for best results.

Can Double Play® Red Spirea be shipped to my location year-round?

Double Play® Red Spirea ships year-round to USDA zones 3-8 where it's hardy. Timing depends on your local climate and soil conditions. Check naturehills.com for specific shipping windows to your area.

Is Double Play® Red Spirea susceptible to any common diseases or pests?

Double Play® Red Spirea is naturally disease resistant and typically pest-free. Deer also avoid this hardy shrub, making it ideal for zones 3-8. Provide good air circulation and avoid overwatering to maintain its natural resistance.

Should I prune Double Play® Red Spirea and if so, when is the best time?

Double Play® Red Spirea maintains its natural mounded shape without pruning. If you need to prune for size control, do so immediately after spring flowering to avoid removing next year's buds. Light shaping in late spring is all this low-maintenance shrub typically needs.

How long does it typically take for Double Play® Red Spirea to become established after planting?

Double Play® Red Spirea typically establishes within 6-8 weeks after planting. This hardy shrub adapts quickly to poor soils and difficult conditions across zones 3-8. Water regularly the first month, then let its natural drought tolerance take over.

Double Play® Red Spirea

Double Play® Red Spiraea japonica 'SMNSJMFR' USPP 26,993