By Norman Winter / The Gardening Guy
“Candy Corn,” a new spirea in Proven Winners Double Play series, may change any opinion you have regarding deciduous shrubs in mixed containers.
It is the foliage that demands your attention. The Proven Winners tag says it all, the foliage color is orange, red, yellow and pineapple yellow. The flower color is a shade of purple.
My adventurous “color guru” son brought some in to use in mixed containers. The plants were riveting in color as they were still putting on new growth. Three months later and several nights in the 20s, their display is still magnificent. The new growth has stopped but the deciduous senescence has not arrived even though it’s after Christmas.
The foliage is a fiery gold, which stands out to perfection paired with blue pansies, and purple heuchera and “Lemon Ball” sedum. Once the leaves decide to give up and go into a winter rest, the stems will be cut back only as needed to maintain a showy look in the container until spring growth.
The plants bloom on new wood, so cutting back late winter is always a good thing. Deadheading or a light shearing after bloom will often stimulate another round of blooms which, by the way, bring in butterflies.
Double Play “Candy Corn” is known botanically as Spirea japonica or Japanese spirea and is cold hardy from zones 4-8. You may have grown other varieties like “Gold Flame,” “Gold Mound” and “Anthony Waterer.”
Moist fertile loam is recommended in the landscape. It is apparent that the premium blends of potting soil used in mixed containers are also just right to maintain its stunning presence.
“Candy Corn” is recommended for full sun, though in the hottest parts of zones 8 or 9, I would probably go toward a morning sun and afternoon shade. You’ll find this one to be more compact reaching 18- to- 24 inches with a mounding habit. Even though I am touting them in mixed containers, you’ll find them great as a border plant even grown as a small hedge.
In the landscape, they would look magical growing in front of the taller, burgundy loropetalums like “Purple Diamond” or “Red Diamond.” In zone 7 and warmer you would also love them with cleyera like “Lee Ann” and “Montague” that seem to always be exhibiting some bronze foliage.
The Double Play series offers several choices, “Red,” “Gold,” “Big Bang,” and others, but I assure you the “Candy Corn” will be your favorite.
As we’re in the holiday season, now is the time to locate your sources and even put a bug in the ear of your favorite supplier by asking them when they will be getting them in.
Norman Winter is a horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.
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