Puffer Fish® Hydrangea is a deciduous cultivar in the Hydrangeaceae family developed by Dr. Tom Ranney of the NCSU horticultural department. This is a compact shrub with a dense habit growing 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. Puffer Fish® Hydrangea will flower best if given full to partial sun in fertile, well-drained soils. In hot summer areas, some afternoon shade is desirable. As it blooms on new wood, pruning can be done in late winter to early spring if needed and in spring apply a slow-release fertilizer specialized for trees and shrubs. In summer, the large, fluffy white clusters of flowers nearly cover the entire plant. As the blooms age, they turn lime green, and then a fresh sprig of white flowers emerges from the tips of the aging clusters. Use this hydrangea in borders, groups, as a hedge, in a foundation planting or as a specimen. The flowers will attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids, scales, nematodes and mites may be seen but are rarely a problem. This plant may be susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spot, rust, bud blight and bacterial wilt. It may be damaged by deer. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheDeutzia Yuki Snowflake® 'NCDX1'Hydrangea arborescens Invincibelle® GroupViburnum Yin® 'NCVX2'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Rounded
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Deep green leaves with serrated margins and a pointed apex.
Flower color
Green; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Large clusters of white flowers nearly cover the shrub in summer. They mature to lime green and then may produce a fresh sprig of white flowers that emerges from the tips as the clusters age.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Flowers are sterile and do not produce seed.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
The bark is grayish-brown and shreds when mature and is irregularly furrowed.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects.
Attracts
Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; English Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Small groups; Specimen