Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Puffer Fish™ Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata Puffer Fish™) is a deciduous shrub that will explode with puffy blooms that never flop. Its blooms appear early in the summer and last until fall. This plant features large fluffy clouds of white blossoms that turn shades of pink and light green late in the season. Its mature size is 3-5 feet tall and wide.
Puffer Fish™ Hydrangea has a mounded growth habit and blooms on new growth. After it is established in the ground, this hydrangea is drought tolerant. The flowers on this plant look beautiful when used in cut arrangements or dried.
Puffer Fish™ Hydrangea Care
The Puffer Fish™ Hydrangea thrives in part to full sun. It is more tolerant of the sun than other hydrangeas. This plant prefers well-draining soil that will not retain excess moisture. It is adaptable to various soil types, and not picky about soil pH. The Puffer Fish™ Hydrangea prefers a regular watering schedule that will keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Prune and fertilize Puffer Fish™ in the early spring before buds appear. Remove the weak branches by cutting about 1/4 inch above a growth point.
Puffer Fish™ Hydrangea Spacing
Space your Puffer Fish™ Hydrangea about 3-5 feet apart. This compact hydrangea looks great as a stand-alone stunner in your garden. Puffer Fish™ Hydrangea is also good for usage in shorter hedges, screens, and borders.
Puffer Fish™ Hydrangea Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 3 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 3-5 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-5 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Pink, White
- Flower Description
- Large, fluffy, mophead-like white flowers that age to lime green
- Bloom Time
- Mid-Summer to Fall
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Puffer Fish™ Hydrangea
- Botanical Name
- Hydrangea pan. Puffer Fish
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!