How to plant " ECLIPSE "® Hydrangea Macrophylla BIGLEAF Mophead

My name is Matty Croxton. I am a musician / entertainer / songwriter and artist, but I'm also a gardener! My little town knows that I'm plant CRAZY!

This is what I do to plant a big leaf hydrangea. It would typically be the same for any similar plant. Living here in the south, Fort Payne, Alabama ( zone 7B/8A ), these types need to be in morning/early day sun only, or they will wilt and scorch in the afternoon heat and sun by the time summer is here.
Some varieties are a little more tolerant of sun, but this is the general rule. Dappled shade is okay too, but it's definitely dependent on the space it's plated in. This cultivar is a brand new release called "Eclipse" ( Bailmacseven) from Bailey Nursuries ‪@BaileyNurseriesInc‬ , ( of the ‪@EndlessSummer-Hydrangeas‬ fame ) marketed in the " First Editions " brand just released this year, 2024. The black / purple foliage is stunning, and it looks like it's going to be a great plant in our garden. Picking the right spot with optimum sunlight is one of the keys to having the best blooms on the heathiest hydrangeas. I'll do my best to show you how! Pruning (or lack thereof) and winter/late frost protection is also key. THANKS!

P.S. - I've learned a whole lot from ‪@JimPutnam‬ ‪@LindaVater‬‪@plantvibrations‬ ‪@gardenanswer‬ ‪@GardeningwithCreekside‬ and ‪@MikeKincaid79‬ and ‪@SouthernLivingPlants‬