Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea Wins Three More Awards in Its Debut Year
St. Paul, MN (July 24, 2024) – First Editions® Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea has made a remarkable impact in its first year on the market, earning widespread acclaim from the industry and home gardeners alike. This innovative hydrangea has recently added three prestigious awards to its growing list of accolades, showcasing its global appeal.
In June, the Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea captured two notable honors in the United Kingdom. It was awarded Bronze at the Royal Horticultural Society-sponsored HTA National Plant Show’s New Plant Awards, and also received the prestigious Peter Seabrook Award for Best New Plant 2024 at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live event.
“We are thrilled to have Eclipse® recognized as the Best New Plant by BBC Gardeners’ World Live,” shared Alec Charais, Chief Marketing & Product Development Officer of Bailey Nurseries, the brand owner of First Editions®. “Receiving this award from among 100 entries is a testament to the dedication of our Head Breeder David Roberts at Bailey Innovations® and the invaluable partnership with Allensmore Nurseries in the UK.”
In the United States, the Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea was also celebrated at Cultivate’24, winning the Reader’s Choice Award at the Greenhouse Grower’s Medal of Excellence ceremony.
“To receive this support from our peers is incredibly exciting and humbling,” Charais adds. “It takes an immense team to bring a game-changing new plant to market, and these awards recognize the efforts of breeder David Roberts, the marketing team, as well as the growers and broader teams at Bailey and First Editions® licensees around the world.”
First Editions® Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea is the first dark-leaf hydrangea with leaves that stay dark, complemented by cranberry or amethyst-colored blooms. Bred by David Roberts at Bailey Innovations® in Athens, Georgia, Eclipse® was introduced and distributed by First Editions® Shrubs & Trees across North America and worldwide.
In addition to these recent honors, Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea also received the following awards over the last year:
- Retailers’ Choice Award: Cultivate’23
- Retailers’ Choice Award: Farwest 2023
- People’s Choice Award: Farwest 2023
- Audience Award: IPM ESSEN 2024
- 2024 National Garden Bureau Green Thumb Award – Professional’s Choice
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ABOUT FIRST EDITIONS® SHRUBS & TREES
First Editions® Shrubs & Trees brings fun and excitement to the landscape with Rock Star performers that have been tested and trials around the world. Regional and national selections of shrubs, trees, perennials, roses, and more provide plants with purpose, providing hard-working selections for the horticulture industry and home gardeners alike. First Editions® is owned and managed by Bailey Nurseries and is distributed worldwide.