Eclipse Hydrangea

Real breakthroughs in garden plants are quite rare, although we see many new varieties each year. The Eclipse® Hydrangea stands out, though, because it really is a breakthrough – the first bigleaf hydrangea with purple leaves. This brings a whole new look into play with these popular plants – no more plain-Jane foliage to look at before or after blooms, now you have vibrant color from the moment growth begins in spring. The rich leaf coloring persists through summer, even in hot zones, and right into fall. It grows quickly into a rounded shrub typically around 3 feet tall and wide, that can reach 5 feet with full maturity. Plus, this great variety has fabulous pink and white flowers, like cranberries and cream, throughout summer, making a great show. If your soil is acidic, or you use ‘bluing’ fertilizer, the flowers will be rich purple-blue, again with white centers. 7 inches across, and packed with large flowers, the fat mopheads remain attractive for 3 months, developing on the branches of the previous year. A great choice for accents in partially-shaded beds, as a striking low hedge, or growing in a large pot.

• Bold purple foliage from spring to fall, even in hot zones
• Flashy mophead flowers of cranberry and cream
• Good-sized bush 3 to 5 feet tall and wide
• Flowers are attractive for 3 months through summer
• Great choice for shady beds and planter boxes

In colder zones the Eclipse® Hydrangea can be grown in full sun, and everywhere in partial sun, ideally just with some afternoon shade. It will also grow in light full shade in hotter zones. Plant in any kind of well-drained soil that is rich and moist. Water as needed, this isn’t a drought-tolerant plant. The exact flower color may vary with the pH of your soil – pink in alkaline soils, purple-blue in acidic ones. Deer don’t eat it, and it has good resistance to both powdery mildew and Cercospora leaf spot, so it stays handsome all summer long. Avoid pruning, it reduces flowering. Simply wait in spring until the buds are swelling, and remove any dead wood. If a terminal bud is dead, prune back only the first healthy pair of buds on the stem. Don’t trim new growth.