Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica 'Yan' DOUBLE PLAY GOLD)
Dwarf Japanese spirea, Spiraea japonica 'Yan' DOUBLE PLAY GOLD boasts striking golden foliage and long-lasting pink blooms, ideal for low maintenance borders.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD is a standout selection within the highly popular Japanese spirea category, celebrated for its long season of color. This dwarf cultivar offers dense, mounded structure perfectly accented by foliage that shines with attractive golden-yellow tones throughout the growing season. Gardeners appreciate this variety for its exceptional durability and minimal care requirements, making it a workhorse plant.
This variety, often sold as Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD, produces showy clusters of clean pink flowers beginning in late spring and continuing intermittently often until frost. Its compact size, topping out around two feet tall, makes it invaluable for modern landscape designs where space might be limited. Enjoying the benefits of deer resistance and pollution tolerance, Japanese spirea remains a reliable choice for many urban and suburban settings.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Rosaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1.5-2 ft
- Spread: 2-3 ft
- Bloom Time: May to July
- Bloom Description: Pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD in spring or fall when conditions are mildest, ensuring it receives full sun for the best foliage color, though it tolerates light shade. This Japanese spirea thrives in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils, but it is notably adaptable and tolerates a wide range of soil types, though it prefers rich, moist loams. Good drainage is essential to prevent root issues.
Water moderately, aiming for consistently moist soil, especially during the first few establishment seasons. Maintenance for this variety is generally low. Since the flowers bloom on new wood, any necessary corrective pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
To encourage continuous flowering on your Japanese spirea, light shearing immediately after the main bloom flush subsides is an option to remove faded clusters. Be aware that plants may spread by suckering, and seedlings can sometimes appear around the parent plant, so plan placement accordingly if you wish to maintain tight borders.
Landscape Uses
Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD excels in structured, contemporary garden designs due to its neat, mounded habit and reliable color program. It functions perfectly as a low hedge lining paths, walkways, or defining the front edge of foundation plantings where taller shrubs might overwhelm the architecture. Its bright foliage provides necessary contrast against deep greens and blues in the garden palette.
Use this dwarf Japanese spirea as a mass planting for a stunning, uniform sweep of gold and pink across a sloped area or within a large shrub border. In rock gardens, individual specimens of Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD offer striking texture and color interest against stone elements. Consider pairing it with spring bulbs or later-blooming perennials that appreciate similar sun and moisture requirements.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Spiraea japonica, commonly called Japanese spirea, is normally a dense, upright, mounded, deciduous shrub, but the cultivar ‘Yan’, sold as DOUBLE PLAY GOLD, is notably a dwarf, mounded selection only growing to 18-24” tall and 36” wide. Its vibrant golden-yellow foliage holds its color well throughout the season, accompanied by clean pink flowers in flattened clusters blooming from late spring into mid-summer with intermittent rebloom until frost. This cultivar was introduced as part of a series emphasizing multiple improved traits.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Air Pollution
Potential Problems
While generally robust, Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD, like other members of the rose family, can occasionally be susceptible to common issues such as leaf spot, powdery mildew, or fire blight under humid conditions. Aphids or scale insects are infrequent minor pests. Prevention often involves ensuring excellent air circulation through proper spacing and sanitation practices. Avoid dense overcrowding to minimize fungal pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Japanese spirea suitable for?
The Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD grow?
This dwarf cultivar reaches a mature height between 1.5 to 2 feet tall and spreads approximately 2 to 3 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD need?
For the best health and vibrant golden foliage display, this Japanese spirea requires full sun exposure.
When does Japanese spirea bloom?
Bloom time is typically from May through July, presenting with attractive pink flowers.
Conclusion
The Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD offers exceptional value through its year-round interest, low maintenance needs, and reliable flowering display. This compact Japanese spirea perfectly fills the niche for low, colorful foundation plantings or border accents. Consult your local USDA zone map and plan your planting during the favorable spring or fall seasons for immediate success with this excellent shrub.
Companion Planting
Given its preference for full sun and medium moisture, companion plants should share similar cultural needs to ensure a cohesive planting area. Consider pairing the golden foliage of Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD with deep purple or blue-leaved perennials for dramatic contrast, such as certain varieties of Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) when space allows, or low-growing Sedum varieties in front. For edging, low-mounding Creeping Thyme or blue Fescue grass complement the mounded form of this Japanese spirea beautifully.
Design Ideas for Borders
The compact stature of Spiraea japonica ‘Yan’ DOUBLE PLAY GOLD makes it especially useful for foreground or middle layers in a mixed shrub border. Use it as a continuous, low-growing element to ground taller shrubs like Hydrangeas or large evergreen conifers, providing a visual break between the ground cover and the taller woody plants. Because it performs well as a low hedge, mass planting several units in a row offers a defined edge that remains colorful all summer long, unlike many deciduous hedging options which focus only on spring structure.
