Puffer Fish® Panicle Hydrangea
Shrub
- Strong stems keep flowers from flopping!
- Blooms on new wood for unstoppable performance.
- Gigantic blooms turn lime green in fall.
- Perfect for cut flower arrangements.
- Zones 3-9, sun/part sun, 3-5' tall x 3-5' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Patent #: PP # 35316
Common name: Panicle hydrangea, Peegee hydrangea, Hardy hydrangea
Zone: 3 – 9
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun) in cool areas; part-sun (4-6 hours sun) in warm climates.
Height x width: 3-5′ tall and wide
Flower color: Green and white
Foliage color: Green
Season of Interest: Summer-fall
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Suitable for slopes, Proven Winners, fall color, dry soils, best for beginners
Uses: Flower gardens, landscaping, specimen, flowering hedge
How to Grow
Light: plants can take full sun (6+ hrs/day) in cooler areas, but afternoon shade is recommended in warm climates. If your plant frequently wilts in the afternoon even though it was recently watered, or your flowers turn brown quickly, that may indicate the spot is too sunny for it.
Water: Average. Panicle hydrangeas do not tolerate overwatering or poor drainage.
Space: 3 - 5'
Fertilizing: If desired, fertilize in early spring, once the ground has thawed, with a granular rose fertilizer.
Winterizing: Panicle hydrangeas are very hardy and easily withstand harsh winters, so need no special care. A good 2-3″ layer of mulch helps protect the shallow roots. We recommend pruning in late winter/early spring (see below for more info) but plants can be pruned in late autumn, after they’ve gone completely dormant, if desired.
Maintenance: Panicle hydrangeas bloom on new wood; that means they create their flower buds after leafing out in spring, so they can be pruned and will still bloom that season. While pruning is not strictly necessary, it does neaten the plant’s appearance and can help develop strongest stems. Simply cut the main stems of the plant back by about one-third its total height in late winter or early spring, removing any thin or spindly or wayward branches as necessary.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
I just got it this spring in a quart size and it’s already showing off in a pot this year! I am so happy with this beautiful plant!!
Seems to be growing nicely. Hopefully it will keep doing so.
Arrived in excellent condition. Looking forward to watching these grow.
This is the second summer inhave irdered from you. The plants are healthy and your packaging is superb!! I look forward to ordering from you in the future!! Thank you!
The plant is doing very well. The deer off I sprayed on it so far has kept the deer from eating it. All I need now are the flowers. I was told by a rep from Hydrangea.com that they should come out this season. It's already July but I'm still hopeful.
Well I'm still not a fan of Staples in the pots the plastic does manage to keep the soil in the pots during shipping! The plant was missing its Proven Winners Tad I'm going on the assumption that this is a pufferfish hydrangea. Other than that the plan was a great condition with no signs of stress way to go greatgardenplants.com!
Arrived in great shape. Very healthy and beautiful.
Puffer Fish® Panicle Hydrangea
Smaller than what I expected. It’s growing well but it’s only a few inches. Time will tell how it does.
They arrived beautifully and took to my back yard without watering worries in about a week. So excited to see what happens!
Growing nicely. Excited to see it bloom probably next year. Plants were very healthy when they arrived.
It looked nice and healthy.
Plants arrived healthy and are now thriving in my garden
The plant is great! Everything we have received from you has been 10 Star's.have been telling everyone about your business
Plants arrived in beautiful condition! Well packed! I lost one plant don’t know why, but want to reorder it. Thanks you ship great plants.
We are sorry to hear about your plants. Please email pictures of the plants to [email protected], making sure to put your order number and name in the subject line so that we may provide the best assistance possible. Rest assured, we have a 60-day guarantee on all our plants. If you received your plants within that timeframe, we would be happy to apply your warranty once we receive the pictures. Happy Gardening!
https://www.greatgardenplants.com/pages/our-guarantee
All plants arrived in excellent condition. We took them out and let them sit on our covered porch for two days to acclimate and then planted. All plants are doing well. Very pleased. Can’t wait for the future growth and blooms. A little TLC and they should flourish!
It's doing very well. It's still very healthy looking and I am very pleased with it.
All my plants arrived in great time and condition.I put them in the grid.by the next day.I am looking forward for them to bloom.My Azaleas are starting to bloom and look great 😊.I’ll keep you posted later this summer.LF Ky, thanks for good service
What do they look like when you ship them
Plant size varies widely depending on the variety that you purchase and the time of year. You can find more information on plant sizes here: https://www.greatgardenplants.com/pages/sizes
Will this bloom in full shade (north facing)?
Hi there! Puffer Fish® Panicle Hydrangea needs at least 4 hours of sun a day, less than that will inhibit growth and bloom production.
I would like to plant them now for next year live in zone 6 Chicago western suburb. Do you think it is a good idea to plant them now it was a hot summer?
Hi there! You may want to wait a little while for the summer heat to pass before planting. However, fall is a great time to plant! Check out our gardening article for information to help ensure fall planting success:
https://blog.greatgardenplants.com/our-guide-for-fall-planting/
Can I plant these in August
Hi! Generally, we don’t recommend planting in the summer due to high temperatures and dry conditions. Adjusting to a new garden can be stressful enough for a plant, and having to do it in hot summer weather can make it even more difficult. Planting in fall is a great option. As long as you get the plants in the ground 6 weeks before the first hard frost of fall in your area, you should be good to grow!
I live in Arkansas zone 8a. In July and August we run triple digits. I have a spot that gets shade up until 1:00 pm, then full sun. I’m looking for a hydrangea to put there, what do you suggest???
Hi! The most suitable hydrangea for the conditions you're describing is Invincibelle Spirit® II Smooth Hydrangea. It tolerates full sun if grown with consistent moisture but requires afternoon shade, especially in the South, which aligns with your garden's conditions of shade until 1:00 pm followed by full sun in a zone with high temperatures. You can find that hydrangea here:
https://www.greatgardenplants.com/products/invincibelle-spirit-ii-smooth-hydrangea