Pink flowering plant in a purple pot on a gravel nursery lot.

Pink and white hydrangea flower cluster with dark green leaves nearby on a shrub.

Dark purple-leaved lantana plant with small clustered flowers at stem tips.

Close-up of a potted ornamental shrub with dark purple, serrated leaves and small pink flower clusters at the tips.

Pink hydrangea blossoms with dark, glossy leaves in a garden setting

Pink hydrangea blossoms with dark green leaves on a woody shrub.

First Edition Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea

Near Black Foliage
Reblooming Summer Flowers
Compact Landscape Accent

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Grasshopper Gardens offers free home delivery to customers in our local service areas. Experience the convenience of having your plants delivered straight to your home, free of charge, saving you time and effort.

Our local delivery area reaches as far north as Schroon Lake, south to Voorheesville, Glenmont, and East Greenbush areas, parts of Fulton and Montgomery counties, much of Washington County, and all areas in between. If you have questions on local delivery, give us a call at

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First Edition Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea

Sunlight
Can grow in a range from full sun to partial shade. They need at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
Watering
Regular watering schedule for the first six months. Once established, rainwater should be sufficient.
Fertilizing
Should not need any extra fertilizer unless your entire lawn and garden have problems and needs regular fertilizing.

First Edition Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea

First Editions Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea is a dramatic flowering shrub prized for its near-black foliage, vivid reblooming flowers, and compact growth habit. The striking dark leaves create lasting contrast in the landscape while colorful blooms add season-long interest to borders, foundations, and decorative garden beds.

Why choose First Editions Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea?

First Editions Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea is one of the few bigleaf hydrangeas grown as much for its foliage as its flowers. Deep purple-black leaves hold their dark color throughout the growing season, creating exceptional contrast against bright blooms. Its reblooming nature provides flowers on both old and new wood, helping extend the display from summer into fall. The compact size fits easily into smaller landscapes, mixed borders, and patio containers, making it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking bold color and extended seasonal appeal.

Key Characteristics

Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailmacseven’
Common Name: First Editions Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea
Plant Type: Deciduous flowering shrub
Growth Habit: Compact, rounded shrub

First Editions Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea Additional Information

The standout feature of First Editions Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea is its exceptionally dark foliage, which emerges deep purple and matures to nearly black throughout the growing season. This dramatic leaf color remains attractive even when the plant is not in bloom, providing valuable landscape interest from spring through fall.

Large mophead flower clusters develop throughout summer and continue appearing into fall thanks to the plant’s reblooming habit. The blooms display rich shades of raspberry, pink, or purple depending on soil conditions and growing environment, creating a striking contrast against the dark foliage. Like other bigleaf hydrangeas, this deciduous shrub sheds its leaves in autumn before producing fresh growth the following spring. Its compact form works beautifully in foundation plantings, specimen gardens, mixed shrub borders, and decorative containers. The combination of colorful flowers and unique foliage makes it a focal point even in smaller landscape spaces.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in a location with morning sun and afternoon shade. Incorporating organic matter at planting helps support vigorous root development.

2. Watering: Keep soil consistently moist during establishment and flowering periods. Supplemental watering during extended dry weather helps maintain healthy foliage and bloom production.

3. Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch around the root zone to conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and improve soil quality over time.

4. Pruning: Remove spent flowers as desired and perform light shaping in spring once new growth appears. Avoid excessive pruning that removes healthy stems capable of producing flowers.

Related Resources

FAQs

What makes First Editions Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea unique?
Its near-black foliage provides dramatic contrast rarely found in hydrangeas, making it attractive even when not flowering.
When does First Editions Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea bloom?
Flowers typically appear in early summer and continue through fall thanks to its reblooming habit.
What sunlight conditions are best for this hydrangea?
It performs best with morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in areas with warm summer temperatures.

Shipping Details

Estimated Shipping Time: Most orders ship immediately. As noted on the website, some items are seasonal, and may only ship in spring or fall. Once your order is shipped, you’ll receive an email with a tracking number.

Amount of Order	Shipping Charge
Local Delivery	FREE SHIPPING
Non-Local Delivery	Varies based on UPS shipping

Lush Foliage
Flowering
Partial Shade

Mature Height	Medium: Up to 4 ft
Mature Spread	0-5 ft
Growth Rate	Fast
Botanical Name	Hydrangea macrophylla
Bloom Time	Late Spring, Mid spring, Early Fall, Early Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Mid Summer
Deer Resistant	No
Family	Hydrangeaceae
Flower Color	Blue/Purple, Red
Hardiness Zones	5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Light Needs	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Maintenance	Medium
Size	#3 Container, #7 Container, Quart

Map of the United States with most states filled in dark green and a few states left uncolored in white, indicating coverage in the shaded areas.

Growing Zones 5-9 Outdoors

(Hardy down to -20)

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Mature Spread	0-5 ft	5-10 ft	0-5 ft	0-5 ft	5-10 ft	5-10 ft
Bloom Time	Mid Summer	Early Summer	Mid Summer	Early Summer	Late Spring, Early Summer	Early Spring
Growth Rate	Moderate	Moderate, Slow	Fast, Moderate	Fast	Moderate, Slow	Moderate, Slow
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Family	Hydrangeaceae	Oleaceae	Hydrangeaceae	Rosaceae	Oleaceae	Adoxaceae
Flower Color	White	Blue/Purple	Green, Pink	Pink	Blue/Purple	White
Hardiness Zones	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	3, 4, 5, 6, 7	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Needs	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Maintenance	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low