Double Play® Candy Corn® Spiraea japonica Double Play® Candy Corn® 'NCSX1'
- Phonetic Spelling
- spy-REE-ah juh-PON-ih-kuh
- Description
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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 offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
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- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Spiraea
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a dry, brown follicle.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 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
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Wiry, freely branching, erect stems are brown to reddish-brown, round in cross-section and sometimes hairy.
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Landscape:
- 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
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
