I thought about titling this column "A Shrub for All Seasons." It would be kind of a verbal take off the "Man for All Seasons." But my shrub goes dormant, so I decided the best description would be "A Shrub for All Reasons." Let me explain.

My sister sent me three photos in early October and asked, "How do you like my Double Play Candy Corn spirea?" My first thoughts were something like "they are drop dead gorgeous" followed by "you can’t do that." They are taking your breath away the first week of October, in the shade, in containers, growing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

My sister’s house is situated where these shrubs are in sun spring and early summer then shifting to shade. The look in October is a draping or cascading of branches with new growth and the leaves exhibiting a "look at me" yellow.

Ever since Double Play Candy Corn spirea made its debut it has been slaying dragons or naysayers with its abilities. This first being it won’t work in the hot humid South. But it will and it does and partners with any plant you have in mind or "For All Reasons."

Over the years The Garden Guy and son James have grown them in beds and large containers like horse troughs. No matter the size of the Double Play Candy Corn spirea you start with, you are in store for one of the great gardening experiences in your life.

James and I will both admit we didn’t know what we were doing at first. And now after seeing my sister’s October shady version I think we still have a lot more opportunity.

In the beginning James was part of a large landscape team. The first Double Play Candy Corn was cut back hard in the fall. James, I’m sure, told me he thought they were dead, just little twigs.

I can’t remember which combinations came first but it was magical. There were partners with pansies, and dreamy combos with both Primo Wild Rose and Dolce Spearmint heuchera.

But it was a heavenly marriage with Lemon Coral sedum that took my breath away. Nobody anticipated the dazzling horticultural displays. In the commercial horticultural world of shopping center gardens, containers get changed out and thus some Double Play Candy Corn were used as annuals.

The Garden Guy on the other hand sees them as forever plants. I wait until the first buds pop in the spring and cut back to around 8 inches. Then the carnival-like color of foliage follows with blooms in April and May. I love the rose-pink blooms, but the foliage is on the amazing side.

The foliage begins in the early spring as if on fire. Leaves of orange, red and yellow prevail. Partner it with red azaleas and you’ll think you need eye protection as you gaze at the beauty.

Blue perennial salvias like Rockin Blue Suede Shoes, Rockin Playin’ The Blues and Unplugged So Blue all seem like the perfect complementary color scheme. Then there are the perennial verbenas like Superbena Cobalt, Violet Ice and Large Lilac just screaming "try me!"

As you can tell we are excited about the combinations we have done with Double Play Candy Corn spirea in Georgia. And I haven’t even told you about the combinations with Supertunia petunias, Superbells calibrachoas, ColorBlaze coleus and Upscale Red Velvet Monarda.

My sister Susan showed us the October shady version in Texas. Maybe you’ll be the one to drape a shady wall or train to a trellis. I’m not going to say it can’t be done. Show me your Double Play Candy Corn spirea creations and follow me on my Facebook page @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for more inspiration.

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(Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.)

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Norman Winter receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.)

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