Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea

Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmacseven', PP34,544) Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea earns its name — it announces its presence in the garden the way a solar eclipse commands attention, and the effect lingers all season long. As the first Hydrangea macrophylla cultivar to maintain genuinely dark foliage throughout the growing season, including in warm climates where similar-looking plants typically fade to green by midsummer, Eclipse® breaks meaningful new ground for the genus. The intensely dark purple, nearly black leaves are large, glossy, and broadly ovate with serrated margins — a lush, dramatic backdrop against which the large mophead blooms register in amethyst or cranberry-red. Those flowers appear on both old and new wood from late spring through summer, providing reliable color even after difficult winters in Zone 5. Strong disease resistance, including to powdery mildew and Cercospora leaf spot, adds practical durability to what is already a visually commanding plant. Eclipse® grows as a compact, rounded deciduous shrub reaching 3–5 feet tall and wide in Zones 5–9, making it equally suited to foundation plantings, mixed borders, and decorative containers. It performs best in morning sun with afternoon shade, particularly in warmer climates where some protection from intense summer heat extends both foliage color and bloom quality. Moist, well-drained soil with consistent moisture produces the best results; as with all Hydrangea macrophylla selections, avoiding fall pruning preserves the old wood on which much of the flowering depends. Photo Credit: First Editions