Whipcord hebe

Whipcord hebe: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Compact, rounded to arching shrub about 40 cm high and 60 cm wide, with sturdy, finely branching shoots.

Leaves

Very small and scale-like, pressed against the stem like a cord; ochre to bronze and evergreen.

Flowers

Small white flowers in short spikes at the tips of the shoots, in June.

Roots

Fibrous and shallow: it likes free-draining soil and does not tolerate wet feet.

Cultivars

‘James Stirling’ is the best known, with bronze-yellow shoots.

Flowering: June · Plants: April–May · Pruning: April

Why grow it?

• Ochre, evergreen and dense: a striking spot of colour all year among green and grey plants.
• Looks like a dwarf conifer, but softer in form and with small pale flowers in June.
• Ideal for a rock garden, gravel garden, roof terrace or pot, thanks to its compact size.
• Very hardy for a hebe, to about −15 °C.
• Low maintenance: hardly any pruning needed.

Whipcord hebe: where does it grow best?

• Full sun: it then keeps its golden colour and stays compact.
• Free-draining, not too rich soil: sand or loam, acid to chalky.
• Not too wet: make sure drainage is good, especially in winter.
• Suits a rock garden or gravel garden; tolerates wind.
• Allow 50–60 cm per plant.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

0.4 m tall, 0.6 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -15 °C)

Goes well with

• Stonecrop: Thick leaves and late flowers on the same dry soil.
• Blue fescue: Blue-grey grass that contrasts with the ochre shoots.
• Creeping thyme: Low, scented ground cover for the same sunny spot.
• Lavender: Grey-green leaves and purple flowers next to the yellow.

Whipcord hebe: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May.

1. Plant in April–May, when the worst frosts are over, so the plant can root well before winter.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball; on heavy soil mix in plenty of sand or fine grit.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil well.
4. Leave 50–60 cm between plants.
5. Water in thoroughly and keep the soil slightly moist in the first year.
6. Spread a thin layer of gravel or chippings around the plant: it keeps the crown dry.

Care

Water

In the first year during dry weather, afterwards only in long dry spells. In pots regularly, but never with wet feet.

Feeding

Little needed. In April a small amount of organic fertiliser is enough.

Mulching

Use gravel or chippings instead of compost: it keeps the crown of the plant dry.

Tidying

In spring remove dead twigs and do not let leaves from neighbouring plants lie on the plant.

Repotting

Potted plants are repotted every 2–3 years in April, into a slightly larger pot with free-draining compost.

Tip: Give it a sunny, very free-draining spot with gravel around the base. It then keeps its ochre colour and stays compact for years.

Whipcord hebe: when to prune it?

Pruning months: April.

When: Hardly any pruning. In April remove dead twigs and, after flowering, give a light shaping trim if needed.

How:

• In April remove dead or frost-damaged twigs back to healthy wood.
• If needed, shorten only the tips of protruding branches to keep the shape.
• Cut off the spent spikes if you want a very neat plant.

Caution: Never cut into old, bare wood: whipcord hebes mostly do not regrow from it.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings

In July–September take cuttings of 5–8 cm in sandy compost, under plastic or in a propagator. They root in a few weeks.

Seed

Possible, but cultivars do not come true from seed; cuttings are the reliable method.

Whipcord hebe: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −15 °C: protect young plants.

• Hardy to about −15 °C: it can stay outside in most Belgian winters.
• Wet winters are more dangerous than frost: make sure drainage is good and do not let leaves lie on the plant.
• In a pot: stand it on feet against a sheltered wall and protect the pot in hard frost.

Diseases and pests

• Root rot: The plant fades and branches die on soil that is too wet. Improve drainage with sand or grit, or move it to a higher, drier spot.
• Brown shoots: Caused by frost, drought or soil that is too wet. In May cut back to healthy wood and look for the cause.
• Plant opening up: Older plants can open up in the middle. Plant in a sunny spot and do not cut into bare wood.
• Smothered by neighbours: It needs light. Keep neighbouring plants in check.

Through the year

• April: Planting. Remove dead twigs. Feed lightly.
• May: Planting. Cut out frost damage.
• June: Flowering. Water in dry weather.
• July: Take cuttings.
• August: Take cuttings. Water in long dry spells.
• September: Take cuttings.
• October: Keep leaves off the plant. Protect pots.
• November: Stand pots against a sheltered wall.

Did you know?

• Whipcord hebes are named after their scale-like leaves lying flat against the stem, which make the shoots look like a thin cord.
• Many whipcord hebes grow in open, windswept mountain landscapes in New Zealand.
• Hebes were long treated as a genus of their own, but are now placed in Veronica (speedwell).