Hebe

Hebe: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Dense, sturdy dome about 1 m high and 1 m wide, with upright, closely leafed branches.

Leaves

Small, oval to oblong, glossy dark green and leathery, in opposite pairs on the stem; evergreen.

Flowers

Short white spikes at the tips of the shoots, in June and July.

Roots

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

Use

As a dome or low hedge, in a border and in a pot.

Flowering: June–July · Plants: April–May · Pruning: April and August

Why grow it?

• Glossy, box-like leaves that stay green all year and hold their shape easily.
• Clips easily into a low hedge or a dome, also as a compact alternative to box.
• Small white flowers in June–July attract bees.
• Hardy to about −15 °C: it can stay outside in most Belgian winters.
• Low maintenance: one trim after flowering is enough.

Hebe: where does it grow best?

• Full sun to half shade; in sun the dome stays compact and flowers more.
• Free-draining, humus-rich soil: sand, loam or light clay, acid to chalky.
• Moderately dry to normal; never waterlogged in winter.
• Sheltered from cold, dry easterly wind, especially when the plant is young.
• Allow 80–100 cm per plant; for a low hedge, 50–60 cm.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

1 m tall, 1 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -15 °C)

Goes well with

• Lavender: Same sunny, free-draining spot; scented purple flowers.
• Roses: A low hebe edging at the foot of a rose bed keeps things tidy.
• Cranesbill: Blue to purple flowers next to the dark green leaves.
• Ornamental grasses: Light plumes that contrast with the dense dome.
• Stonecrop: Late flowers in August–September on the same soil.

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 sand or fine grit.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil well.
4. Leave 80–100 cm between single plants; for a low hedge, 50–60 cm.
5. Water in thoroughly and keep the soil slightly moist in the first year.
6. Lay a layer of bark or leaf mould around the base, without covering the stems.

Care

Water

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

Feeding

In April a handful of organic fertiliser or shrub feed; not after August.

Mulching

A layer of bark or leaf mould in spring keeps the soil moist and protects the roots in winter.

Spent flowers

Cut off the spikes after flowering: this is also the moment to clip the dome or hedge into shape.

Repotting

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

Tip: Clip it into shape straight after flowering and never prune into bare wood. It is a good alternative to a low box hedge, especially in a sunny, free-draining spot.

Hebe: when to prune it?

Pruning months: April and August.

When: After flowering, in August, plus a light tidy in April.

How:

• Cut or clip off the spent spikes together with a few centimetres of young shoots.
• Clip a hedge with a slight batter, base a little wider than the top, so light reaches the bottom.
• In April: remove dead or frost-damaged twigs back to healthy wood, which only shows clearly in May.
• A dome stays round with a light trim every year, always within green wood.

Caution: Do not cut deep into old, bare wood: it often fails to regrow. Do not prune in autumn either.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings

In July–September take cuttings of 5–8 cm from non-flowering shoots, strip the lower leaves and insert in sandy compost. Usually rooted in 3–5 weeks.

Seed

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

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.
• Protect young plants in hard frost with fleece and pile leaves or bark around the base in October.
• In a pot: stand it against a sheltered wall and wrap the pot in hessian, or move it to a frost-free place.

Diseases and pests

• Frost damage: Brown leaves and dead twigs after a hard winter. Wait until May, then cut back to healthy wood; it often regrows from the base.
• Root rot: The plant fades and drops leaves on soil that is too wet. Improve drainage with sand or move it to a higher spot.
• Leaf spot: Brown or black spots on the leaves, especially in wet spells. Remove affected leaves and avoid watering over the foliage.
• Bare, woody plant: Pruned too hard or too shady. Trim lightly every year and give more sun.

Through the year

• April: Planting. Remove dead twigs. Feed.
• May: Planting. Cut out frost damage.
• June: Flowering begins. Water in dry weather.
• July: Full flower, plenty of bees. Cuttings from late July.
• August: Prune or clip after flowering. Take cuttings.
• September: Take cuttings.
• October: Lay mulch or leaves around the base.
• November: Move pots frost-free. Protect young plants.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• In older books it is often listed as Hebe buxifolia, which means ‘box-leaved’.
• Hebes were long treated as a genus of their own, but are now placed in Veronica (speedwell).
• The name Hebe refers to the Greek goddess of youth.