Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea is available at quality nurseries and garden centers that carry First Editions® plants. This USDA zones 5-9 cultivar grows 3-5 feet tall and wide with distinctive purple-black foliage. Check with local nurseries first for the healthiest plants, or order online for delivery.

Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea

Name: Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea
Brand: First Editions
SKU: 22994
Price: 24.66 USD
Availability: InStock

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmacseven'

First Editions®

$24⁶⁶

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Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

Quart Container #2 Container #3 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: This variety thrives in morning sun with protection from harsh afternoon rays. Aim for at least four to six hours of direct light to maintain the intense dark foliage color and ensure strong flower production.
Soil: Plant in rich, well-drained soil that holds moisture without becoming soggy. If you have heavy clay, mix in organic compost to improve drainage and prevent the roots from sitting in stagnant water.

Watering Requirements

Keep the soil consistently moist like a wrung-out sponge during the first two years of establishment. Once mature, Eclipse is more resilient, but inconsistent watering will cause the leaves to wilt and lead to smaller flower heads. Applying a three inch layer of mulch helps regulate soil temperature and keeps moisture where the roots need it most.

Pruning Tips

Since this hydrangea blooms on both old wood and new wood, the best time to prune is right after the first flush of summer flowers. Think of it like a light haircut to encourage fresh growth for the next bloom cycle while the plant is active. Avoid cutting it to the ground in late winter because you will remove the buds already set for the spring show.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new leaves begin to emerge. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers after mid-summer because they encourage tender new growth that cannot harden off before the winter cold hits. This timing ensures the plant stays strong and focuses energy on root development during the dormant months.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Big bi-color blooms and drama-inducing near-black leaves, the incredible First Editions® Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmacseven') features incredible bright cranberry-red edges that feather into the creamy white centers! These blooms remain on the plant all growing season and deepen in color before becoming a lovely buff dried seedhead as the bracts remain showy until fall and even through the winter months!

Eclipse® is unique in that it has dark deep purple-black foliage that highlights these magnificent blooms! Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea has lovely crinkled, quilted leaves with a toothy edge, remaining the deep green coloration all growing season long without fail! Staying color-fast until the fall! The sturdy stems hold these mophead blooms aloft over those dark leaves.

Bigleaf Hydrangea are gorgeous deciduous shrubs that are color-changing based on pH, growing 3-5 feet in height and width. Eclipse® is hardy and colorfast throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 9 and is very easy to grow. This cultivar is sterile and you will have no worries about self-seeding.

Planting and Application:

Eclipse® Hydrangea looks fantastic in the landscape! It is a must-have specimen plant and yearns for the spotlight! Try planting in highly prominent locations like by your front steps or front door, on either side of your driveway entrance, or as sentries before the start of a path leading to your backyard! The dark foliage and outstanding blooms light up garden borders, backdrops, foundation plantings, and privacy hedges!

These flowering ornamentals and their dark foliage look incredible in the cottage and Rose garden, adding intensity to formal plantings and beds, highlighting smaller plants around them, or in the opposite of a Moon garden! Try making a brooding Gothic garden bed filled with Eclipse® and other purple and near-black foliage plants, and burgundy and purple flowers!

The flowers are incredible as cut flowers and will become a highlight of your floral bouquets. Be sure to include some of that dramatic foliage! You can even preserve them! Let the mopheads dry on the shrub in the fall, becoming their botanical tan, then add them to dried décor and crafts! Plant a few extra shrubs in groups and rows to attract pollinators, giving both you and your butterflies plenty of these glorious flowers to play with!

Incredibly Round Mopheads of Red & Cream Blooms
Dramatic Dark Purple to Near-Black Foliage!
Colorfast Leaves All Growing Season!
Mid-Sized Full, Round Form
Great Cut Flowers & Pollinator-Friendly
Intense Coloration For Hedges, Specimens, Garden Backdrops & Accents!

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Bigleaf Hydrangea flowers the best in full sun and partial shade, doing best in more sun for the largest blooms in colder climates. But in the hottest of its preferred hardiness zones, plant in a location with afternoon shade or all-day dappled shade. Plant in enriched, highly organic well-drained soil that is consistently, yet moderately moist throughout the growing season. Hydrangea loves a 3-4 inch thick layer of arborist mulch around the root system, pulled back away from the stems and crown.

Bigleaf Hydrangea is pH sensitive, so for the reddest flowers you need neutral to alkaline soil, but in very acidic conditions, you'll see your blooms turn a darker purple hue! It can take years, but if you prefer the purple-on-purple look, add peat moss to your soil, and for red, add garden lime.

Macrophylla should be pruned in the very early spring just as you see the new buds beginning to swell. This way you can tell where winter dieback and living stem material meet and know where to prune. Remove an even one-third of the overall growth to create a rounded form and even growth. Every 3-5 years, it's recommended to perform renewal pruning by removing a third of the oldest, fattest stems out from the ground, leaving behind the youngest, most vigorous growth.

Full Sun & Some Partial Shade
Enriched Well-Drained Soil
Appreciates Regular Moisture & Mulched Beds
Prune Early Spring
Sterile Seedless Cultivar

The First Editions® Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea will add its magnificent coloration to your landscape, but only if you order today! This is a new offering that we're sure none of your neighbors will have this year, so be a trendsetter and drop an Eclipse® in your Nature Hills shopping cart today!

Botanical Name

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmacseven'
Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Cornales
Species

macrophylla
Cultivar

Bailmacseven
Growing Zones

5-9
Height

3-5 ft
Width

3-5 ft
Sunlight
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color
- Purple
- Red
Leaf Color
- Purple
- Black
Fall Color

Purple
Bloom Period

Early Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

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Growing Zones 5-9

Find Your Growing Zone!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to buy?

Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea is available at quality nurseries and garden centers that carry First Editions® plants. This USDA zones 5-9 cultivar grows 3-5 feet tall and wide with distinctive purple-black foliage. Check with local nurseries first for the healthiest plants, or order online for delivery.

What USDA hardiness zones is Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea suitable for?

Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea thrives in USDA zones 5-9, making it suitable for most temperate regions. This hardy cultivar maintains its striking dark foliage and bi-color blooms reliably across this wide range. Shop at Nature Hills for guaranteed zone-appropriate shipping.

What is the mature height and width of Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea?

Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea reaches 3-5 feet in both height and width at maturity. This compact size makes it perfect for foundation plantings, garden borders, or as a specimen plant. Plan for adequate spacing when planting to accommodate its full spread.

How do I care for Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea, including watering and soil requirements?

Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea thrives in zones 5-9 with consistent moisture and well-draining soil. Plant in morning sun with afternoon shade for best bloom color. Water regularly during growing season, maintaining soil pH between 6.0-7.0 for optimal cranberry-red blooms.

When and how should I prune Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea?

Prune Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Remove dead or damaged stems and shape as needed, but avoid heavy pruning since blooms form on old wood. Light pruning maintains the 3-5 foot size while preserving next season's flowers.

Can Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea be planted in containers?

Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea grows well in containers with its compact 3-5 foot size. Choose a large pot with drainage holes and use quality potting mix. In zones 5-6, protect containers from freezing or move indoors during winter.