Double Play Doozie Spirea
Double Play Doozie Spirea
A Seedless Spirea That Blooms Bright Red All Summer
Double Play Doozie Spirea (Spiraea 'Double Play Doozie') is a breakthrough: a completely seedless spirea that pours out vivid red-pink flowers continuously from late spring to frost, with no deadheading and no unwanted reseeding. Purple-tinged new growth and red fall color add to the show on a compact, mounded shrub. Tough, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant, it's a non-stop pollinator favorite for borders and foundations in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove.
Double Play Doozie Spirea Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Spiraea 'Double Play Doozie' (NCSX2) |
| Mature Size | 2–3 ft. tall, 2–3 ft. wide |
| Hardiness Zone | 3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Bloom Time | Late spring to frost — continuous, no deadheading needed |
| Flower Color | Vivid red-pink |
| Soil | Adaptable — tolerates clay; prefers good drainage |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to -40°F once established |
| Deer Resistance | Usually avoided by deer |
Landscape Uses in Minnesota
Non-stop color shrub: Because it's seedless, it reblooms continuously without deadheading — ideal for low-maintenance foundations and borders. Space 2–3 feet apart.
Pollinator gardens: Bees and butterflies work the flowers all season. Pair with coneflower, catmint, and grasses.
Best Time to Plant in Minnesota
Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September). Adaptable; water through establishment.
How to Plant Double Play Doozie Spirea
Dig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth, mixing in compost. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep. Space 2–3 feet apart.
Watering Double Play Doozie Spirea
First year: Water deeply every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.
After year one: Drought-tolerant — water only during extended dry spells.
Q: Why is seedless a big deal?
It reblooms all summer without deadheading and won't reseed into the landscape — a tidy, non-stop bloomer.
Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Easily — hardy to zone 3 and beyond.
Q: Is it deer-resistant?
Generally yes — deer usually avoid spirea.
Q: Do I need to deadhead it?
No — that's the point. It keeps blooming on its own; a light spring trim keeps it shapely.
You May Also Like
Double Play Red Spirea (Spiraea japonica): Red-purple foliage with bright red flowers.
Anthony Waterer Spirea (Spiraea japonica): The classic rose-pink-flowered spirea.
Coneflower (Echinacea): A native pollinator companion.
How Many Double Play Doozie Spirea Do I Need?
For a low flowering border, space plants about 2.5 feet apart (within the 2–3 ft spacing above):
| Run Length | Plants Needed |
|---|---|
| 5 ft | 2 |
| 10 ft | 4 |
| 20 ft | 8 |
| 30 ft | 12 |
For an accent, plant a group of 3 in a triangle, 2–3 feet apart, where the all-summer bloom can be seen daily.
Double Play Doozie Spirea Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Purple-tinged new growth emerges, and the first vivid red-pink flowers open in late spring.
- Summer: The seedless breakthrough pays off — continuous red-pink bloom with zero deadheading, busy with bees and butterflies all season.
- Fall: Flowers keep coming until frost while the foliage turns red for a final show.
- Winter: A compact, tidy deciduous mound; give it a light trim in early spring — it blooms on new wood.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Double Play Red Spirea — red-purple foliage that deepens the red theme.
- Anthony Waterer Spirea — the classic rose-pink spirea for an old-meets-new pairing.
- Double Play Candy Corn Spirea — multicolor foliage beside Doozie's non-stop flowers.
- Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass — vertical structure behind the low bloomer.
Is Double Play Doozie Spirea Right for Your Yard?
Yes if you want the longest bloom season a spirea can give — full sun to light part shade, adaptable clay-tolerant roots, deer-resistant, and drought-tolerant once established. It's not a fit if your site is mostly shaded — the continuous bloom that makes Doozie special slows noticeably without at least a half day of sun.