About This Plant
Puffer Fish® is a charming panicle hydrangea covered in oversized, fluffy white blooms that create a soft, cloud-like display. The blooms emerge bright white and gradually take on subtle pink and green tones as they age, while strong stems help keep the flowers upright. Its compact, rounded habit makes it especially useful in borders, foundation plantings, and smaller garden spaces.
Planting & Care
How to Plant
Choose a spot with 3–6 hours of sun, ideally morning sun. Dig a hole 2–3 times as wide as the pot but no deeper, with the top of the root ball slightly above ground level. Loosen circling roots and backfill with the native soil. Water deeply after planting and add 2–3 in of mulch, keeping it off the stems. Hardy in USDA zones 3-8.
Watering & Feeding
Water deeply 1–2 times a week for the first season, about 1 in per week. Keep soil evenly moist, especially during heat and dry spells. Feed once in early spring with a slow-release shrub fertilizer.
Pruning & Seasonal Care
Blooms on new wood: prune in late winter or early spring, cutting back by about one-third. Leaving dried flower heads over winter adds interest. Mulch in late fall to protect roots through the first winter.