Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea

Name: Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea
Brand: Proven Winners
SKU: 23273
Price: 26.14 USD
Availability: InStock

Spiraea japonica 'NCSX1'

Proven Winners®

$26¹⁴

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In Stock

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Plant Size

Quart Container #2 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Plant in full sun for at least 6 hours each day to achieve the most vibrant orange and yellow foliage. While it tolerates partial shade, the colors will appear more lime-green and the plant will produce fewer purple flowers.
Soil: This spirea thrives in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. If you have heavy clay, mix in a few handfuls of compost at planting time to improve drainage and prevent the roots from sitting in soggy conditions.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, water your Spirea twice a week to ensure the root system establishes deeply. Once mature, this plant is remarkably drought tolerant, but providing a deep soak during mid-summer dry spells prevents the leaf tips from browning. Inconsistent watering during extreme heat can lead to smaller flower clusters and muted leaf color.

Pruning Tips

Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea blooms on new wood, meaning it produces flowers on the stems that grow during the current season. The best time to prune is in late winter or very early spring before new growth appears. Think of it like a refreshing haircut: cutting the entire shrub back by about one third encourages a flush of that iconic bright red new growth and keeps the mound tight and tidy.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring just as the new leaves begin to peek out. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer or fall because this encourages tender new growth that won't have time to harden off before the first frost. This late-season growth is easily damaged by freezing temperatures, which can stress the overall health of the shrub.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 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

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

Whether you are a fan of the old-fashioned fall treat known as candy corn or not, we’re sure this is something we can all get behind! When Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea (Double Play Candy Corn Spiraea japonica 'NCSX1' USPP 28,313) was shown in test gardens, here are a few of the comments people gave this sterile triploid cultivar over and over again:

"Eye-popping!"

"Crazy colorful!"

"You have to see it to believe it!"

And we agree with them all. This is a crazy colorful, eye-popping Spirea that you simply have to see to believe!

In the spring the foliage starts out a candy apple red. Then it turns to pineapple yellow as the season wears on, while all the while - new growth continues to come out in rich orange color. On top of that, the flowers bust out in early summer and are wonderful little clusters of tiny blooms the shade of dark rosy pinkish-purple. Just wait until you see what this little powerhouse has in store for you in the fall! Lots of action and color on one plant!

Double Play® Japanese Spirea are known for their repeat blooms and stunning array of colors! These tough space-saving little woody shrubs are a joy to have frolicking in your garden! Cold hardy throughout USDA growing zones 4 through 7, these living kaleidoscopes will reliably knock your socks off year to year! Staying a demure 1-2 feet tall and spreading to 1-4 feet in width, they won't take any of your time either!

Planting and Application:

Use Spirea Double Play Candy Corn to brighten up beds and borders. They fill in against leggy older evergreens and neaten up older foundation plantings. They look equally great lining a formal walkway or edging a unique woodland garden. Wake up a tired hedge with a row of these eye-popping bushes planted in front of them, or get a rock wall or fenceline noticed! Dress up cottage borders and pollinator gardens with vibrant colors that you and your pollinators will take notice of!

The compact and dense, bushy size and shape of these adaptable little shrubs means great things await your porch planters and patio pots! Balcony and rooftop gardeners, container gardeners and anyone with smaller, modern lots can brighten up their landscapes regardless of size availability! Don't worry about established landscapes either, you'll easily find room to include this bright, space-saving accent shrub!

Vibrant Yellows, Golds, Orange, Reds & More!
Super Color Changing, Three Seasons of Interest
Rosy-Pink Fluffy Flower Clusters - Great Flower Power!
So Compact, Small-Sized & Ultra Low Maintenance!
Brighten Low Hedge, Borders, Edging, Accents, Containers & Foundations

#ProPlantTips for Care:

New and improved Japanese Spirea love full sun and partial shade, appreciating afternoon shade in the hottest of its favored hardiness zones. Any well-drained, moderately moist location in the landscape suits these just fine! Besides their obvious beauty, they are drought tolerant, and deer and rabbits don't touch them. Plus, they rarely require any pruning! Just a clean shearing or deadheading after their first flush of blossoms to tidy up the mound and encourage a rebloom later in the growing season.

Full Sun & Partial Shade
Moderate Moisture & Well-Drained Soil - Low Water Needs Once Established
Adaptable & Easy Care!
Low-Growing - No Pruning Required
Drought Tolerant, Cold Hardy & Deer Resistant

This is a one-of-a-kind plant that is sure to brighten up your garden! Order a Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea bush from NatureHills.com today!

Botanical Name

Spiraea japonica 'NCSX1'
Class
- Magnoliopsida
Species

japonica
Cultivar

NCSX1
Growing Zones

4-7
Height

1-2 ft
Width

1-4 ft
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color
- Purple
- Pink
Leaf Color
- Yellow
- Orange
- Red
- Multicolor
Fall Color

Yellow & Orange
Fragrant

Yes
Bloom Period

Late Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

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On all orders over $199
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Growing Zones 4-7

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Frequently Asked Questions

What USDA hardiness zones is Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea suitable for?

Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea is cold hardy in USDA zones 4 through 7. This compact shrub reliably returns each year in these zones, staying 1-2 feet tall and spreading 1-4 feet wide. Plant in spring for best establishment before winter.

What is the mature height and width of Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea?

Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea reaches 1-2 feet tall and spreads 1-4 feet wide at maturity. This compact size makes it perfect for borders, foundation plantings, or walkway edging in zones 4-7. Shop at Nature Hills for this space-saving colorful shrub.

What are the soil requirements for planting Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea?

Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea thrives in well-draining soil and adapts to most soil types from slightly acidic to neutral pH. This hardy shrub tolerates poor soils once established in zones 4-7. Plant in spring after frost danger passes for best results.

How much sun does Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea need – full sun or partial shade?

Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea thrives in full sun to partial shade, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight for optimal flowering and foliage color. The vibrant spring reds, summer yellows, and orange new growth will be most intense with more sun exposure. Plant in a sunny spot for the best rosy-purple blooms and eye-popping seasonal color changes.

Is Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea deer and rabbit resistant?

Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea is generally deer and rabbit resistant due to its woody nature and dense growth habit. The compact 1-2 foot height makes it less appealing to browsing animals than tender perennials. For best results in zones 4-7, pair with other resistant plants available at naturehills.com.

Does Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea require pruning, and when?

Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea requires minimal pruning due to its naturally compact 1-2 foot height. Light pruning after the first flush of blooms in early summer will encourage repeat flowering. Simply deadhead spent blooms and remove any damaged branches as needed.

How often should I water Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea, and is it drought tolerant once established?

Water weekly during the first growing season, then these hardy shrubs become quite drought tolerant in zones 4-7. Once established, they typically need supplemental water only during extended dry spells. Water deeply but infrequently to encourage strong root development.

What fertilizer is recommended for Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea?

A balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer applied in early spring works well for Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea. These hardy shrubs aren't heavy feeders, so one application before new growth emerges is typically sufficient. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which can reduce flowering and dull the vibrant foliage colors.

When do the flowers bloom on Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea?

Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea blooms in early summer with clusters of dark rosy pinkish-purple flowers. This variety is known for repeat blooms throughout the growing season in zones 4-7. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional flushes of blooms.

How long does shipping take for Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea, and when do pre-orders ship?

Shipping times vary by location and season, typically 3-7 business days for in-stock plants. Pre-orders ship during optimal planting windows based on your hardiness zone (4-7 for this spirea). Check your specific delivery timeline at checkout and plant immediately upon arrival for best establishment.