Hydrangea 'Puffer Fish'
Hydrangea paniculata
Hydrangea paniculata
Puffer Fish is a landscape show-stopper! It boasts large, fluffy blooms that gradually shift from pure white to lime green. With a compact habit and robust stems, Puffer Fish holds these lacey panicles high all summer long.
Puffer Fish reaches 5 feet tall and wide.
Growing Tips:
- Panicle hydrangeas are the only hydrangea species that can withstand full sun in Missouri. That said, they do appreciate afternoon shade during the hotter months!
- Needing less water than mopheads but not quite drought-tolerant, panicle hydrangeas like to be on a consistent watering schedule. Amending the soil for extra drainage and mulching with a 2-3 inch layer of hardwood mulch will help maintain even soil moisture.
- Fertilizing panicle hydrangeas too much can cause the stems to grow fast, but weak. Stick to one application of slow-release fertilizer in the spring once when new growth starts.
- Panicle hydrangeas maintain the strongest structure when pruned in late fall or early spring. Cut them back by 1/3 of the plant’s total size and remove spindly, damaged, or rubbing stems.
- Panicle hydrangea bloom color is dependent on temperature rather than soil pH. The cooler temperatures in fall cause a white-to-pink shift in most panicle hydrangeas.
Consider these companion plants:
