{"product_id":"eclipse-hydrangea","title":"Eclipse Hydrangea","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Reblooming Bigleaf with Dramatic Dark Foliage and Cranberry Blooms\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEclipse Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Eclipse') stands out for its moody near-black, deep-purple foliage topped with rich cranberry-red mophead flowers (purple in acidic soil). As a reblooming bigleaf it flowers on both old and new wood, so it can still bloom after a Minnesota winter knocks the stems back. At the cold edge of its range here, it shines in a sheltered, part-shade spot. Whether you're adding drama to a protected foundation bed in Edina, a courtyard in Woodbury, or a bold container on a Maple Grove patio — Eclipse brings unmatched foliage contrast to sheltered zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEclipse Hydrangea Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHydrangea macrophylla 'Eclipse'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBigleaf Hydrangea, Mophead Hydrangea, Eclipse Hydrangea\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — rounded, mounded habit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePart shade to full sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal; the dark foliage holds best with some sun.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to high. Needs consistent moisture — bigleaf hydrangeas wilt quickly when dry.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — marginal; reblooms on new wood, plant in a sheltered spot)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRich, moist, well-draining. Acidic soil shifts blooms purple; alkaline (typical MN clay) keeps them cranberry-red.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — dramatic near-black, deep-purple leaves all season; dies back in winter.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAt its cold edge here. Old-wood buds can be killed in a hard winter, but it reblooms on new wood. Mulch the crown and site it in a protected microclimate.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot deer-resistant — protect from browsing.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCranberry-red mophead heads (purple in acidic soil) against dark foliage, summer into fall, reblooming on old and new wood.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEclipse Hydrangea Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFoliage drama and contrast\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe near-black leaves are the headline — a bold foil for bright perennials and a sophisticated anchor in a sheltered part-shade bed in Edina or Minnetonka.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProtected foundation plantings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSite it against a wind-sheltered foundation where snow collects to protect the buds and maximize bloom in our climate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eContainers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA large container shows off the dark foliage, lets you control pH for bloom color, and can be moved to a protected spot for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Eclipse Hydrangea in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring (late April–May) is the best window for this marginal shrub, giving it a full season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarly fall (late August–mid September) also works if you plant early enough for 6–8 weeks of root growth before ground freeze, then mulch heavily.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid summer planting and never plant after mid-October or before late April — frozen ground or frost-heaving kills new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Eclipse Hydrangea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose a sheltered spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, out of harsh wind, where snow collects.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil plus 20–30% compost; rich, moisture-retentive but well-draining soil is best.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLeave alkaline clay for cranberry-red blooms, or acidify with aluminum sulfate to shift them purple.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a water basin and keep the soil consistently moist — this plant wilts fast when dry.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 3–4 inches for winter protection, kept off the stems. Don't cut back old wood in fall or spring — leave it to bloom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Eclipse Hydrangea in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow — keep evenly moist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 2–3 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 3–5 days; never let it wilt, especially in summer heat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities metro).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBigleaf hydrangeas are the thirstiest hydrangeas — water deeply during dry spells and summer heat. Consistent moisture keeps both the foliage and blooms looking their best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDrip Irrigation in Minnesota\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrip keeps bigleaf hydrangeas evenly moist — place emitters 12–18 inches from the crown and run regularly in heat. Always winterize the system — blow out the lines before freeze and shut timers off by early October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Eclipse bloom in Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt can — it reblooms on new wood, so it flowers even after a hard winter kills the old stems, though bloom is later and best in a sheltered, well-mulched spot. Even in an off year for flowers, the dark foliage carries the show.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the foliage stay dark all season?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — the deep purple-black leaves hold their color through the season, especially with some direct sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I change the bloom color?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlkaline Minnesota clay keeps blooms cranberry-red; acidify the soil to shift them toward purple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShould I cut it back?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid hard pruning — leave the old stems for early buds and remove only dead wood in late spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEndless Summer The Original — a reblooming blue\/pink mophead bred for cold\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLimelight Hydrangea — a panicle that blooms reliably every year in MN with no fuss\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShop the full Three Timbers Minnesota catalog — zone 4-hardy plants hand-selected for Twin Cities yards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Eclipse Hydrangea Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEclipse is a marginal bigleaf in the Twin Cities, so skip long hedge runs — treat it as a featured accent. Plant a single shrub in a 4–5 foot circle where the dark foliage can anchor a sheltered bed, or group 3 spaced about 3 feet apart along a protected east- or north-facing foundation for a bold foliage mass. In containers, one per large pot is plenty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEclipse Hydrangea Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaf-out comes late — be patient and remove only confirmed dead wood in late spring, since surviving old-wood buds carry the earliest flowers. The near-black foliage darkens as it expands.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cranberry-red mophead blooms (purple in acidic soil) glow against the deep purple-black leaves; keep soil consistently moist — bigleafs wilt fast in July heat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reblooming on new wood continues into fall, and the moody foliage holds its color until frost. Mulch the crown 3–4 inches before freeze-up.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stems die back in hard winters — that's expected at the cold edge of its range. Snow cover over a sheltered site is the best bud insurance; it regrows and reblooms on new wood.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Shade-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/endless-summer-original-hydrangea\"\u003eEndless Summer The Original Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — a cold-bred reblooming mophead whose blue\/pink heads complement Eclipse's cranberry-on-black drama.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/limelight-hydrangea\"\u003eLimelight Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — a no-fuss panicle that guarantees bloom every Minnesota year while Eclipse plays the foliage card.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/lets-dance-rhythmic-blue-hydrangea\"\u003eLet's Dance Rhythmic Blue Hydrangea\u003c\/a\u003e — another reblooming bigleaf for the same sheltered microclimate, in saturated blue-violet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dark-green-spreader-yew\"\u003eDark Green Spreader Yew\u003c\/a\u003e — an evergreen low backdrop that keeps the protected shade bed structured after Eclipse dies back.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Eclipse Hydrangea Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEclipse fits a sheltered spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, rich consistently moist soil, and a gardener who values dramatic near-black foliage as much as flowers. It's not a fit if you want guaranteed heavy bloom or a plant-and-forget shrub in zone 4b — hard winters can kill the old-wood buds and deer will browse it, so exposed, dry, or high-deer sites should choose a panicle hydrangea instead.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54312872182065,"sku":null,"price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54312872214833,"sku":null,"price":38.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/eclipse-hydrangea.jpg?v=1779596779","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/eclipse-hydrangea","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}