Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea

Botanical Name: Spiraea japonica ‘NCSX1’

Common Name: Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea

Mature Height and Width:
18–24" tall × 24–30" wide

Growth Habit: Compact, dense, low-mounded deciduous shrub with tight branching structure. Broader than tall with uniform, refined canopy.

Foliage Description: Emerging foliage bright red to orange, transitioning to yellow and chartreuse tones as season progresses. New growth continuously shows warm red-orange highlights over golden base foliage. Fine-textured leaves typical of Spiraea japonica.

Flower Description: Deep purple-magenta flat-topped flower clusters held above foliage canopy.

Bloom Time: Late spring through summer.

Fall Color: Yellow to orange tones, depending on exposure.

Light Requirements: Full sun for strongest foliage coloration and bloom production.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 4–8

Notable Landscape Uses:
Foundation foreground; border edging; mass planting; color contrast planting; container use; low seasonal accent.

Deer Resistance: Moderate
May experience browsing in high-pressure deer areas; not typically a preferred shrub but not highly resistant.