Hello, Dolly!

Plant of the Week has been a beloved feature since 2019, and over the years, we’ve had the chance to highlight many of the fantastic selections from Proven Winners® ColorChoice®. Today, we’re revisiting one of those standout shrubs: Double Play Dolly® spirea (Spiraea japonica). With its striking color combination and easy-care, this stunning variety is still going strong, so much so that it has earned its spot as our 2026 Flowering Shrub of the Year!

Double Play Dolly is part of the outstanding Double Play spirea series, a fan-favorite for its durability and showy displays. This variety, in particular, brings a vibrant burst of color to the landscape with its bright yellow-green foliage and contrasting purple flowers, a combo not commonly found in other spirea. Blooming from late spring through summer, it has a long period of interest, one that attracts a mix of pollinators for an electric garden scene.

Double Play Dolly spirea is hardy to USDA zones 3 – 8. It grows in full to part sun and adapts quite well to most soil types as long as it has good drainage. Once established, it showcases excellent drought tolerance. Maturing to a height and width of 1.5 – 2.5 feet tall and wide, its habit naturally stays neat and compact. If you would like to do a bit of shaping, you can do so in early spring.