Hebe

Hebe: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Dense, rounded shrub about 1 m high and 1 m wide, with sturdy, branching stems.

Leaves

Oval to lance-shaped, up to about 5 cm, glossy green and leathery; evergreen.

Flowers

Dense, upright flower spikes in shades of purple, from July to October.

Roots

Dense, fibrous and shallow: the plant likes free-draining soil and does not tolerate wet feet.

Cultivars

‘Blue Gem’ has deep blue-purple flowers; there are also variegated forms with a cream edge.

Flowering: July–October · Plants: April–May · Pruning: April

Why grow it?

• Flowers for a long time, from July into October, when many other shrubs have finished.
• Evergreen, glossy leaves: a neat, round shape all year.
• Attracts bees and butterflies late into the season.
• Tolerates sea wind and salty air: a star for a seaside garden.
• Compact and low maintenance; suits a pot, a roof terrace or a low hedge.

Hebe: where does it grow best?

• Full sun to half shade; in sun it flowers best, in half shade it stays fresher.
• Free-draining, humus-rich soil: sand, loam or light clay, acid to chalky.
• Moderately dry to normal: not too wet in winter, but not bone dry in summer.
• Sheltered from cold easterly winds and hard frost; sea wind is fine.
• Allow 1 m per plant; as a low hedge, 60–80 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

Half hardy (to -10 °C): protect it in harsh winters

Goes well with

• Lavender: Same sunny, free-draining spot; scented purple flowers.
• Stonecrop: Flowers at the same time, in September, and also attracts butterflies.
• Fountain grass: Soft plumes that contrast with the round, glossy leaves.
• Cranesbill: Blue to purple flowers that echo the colour.

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; mix in compost and a little sand on heavy soil.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil well.
4. Leave 80–100 cm between plants; for a low hedge, 60–80 cm.
5. Water in thoroughly and keep the soil slightly moist in the first year.
6. Lay a mulch of leaf mould or bark 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, or the shoots stay soft.

Mulching

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

Spent flowers

Cut off spent spikes: the plant stays neater and often flowers longer.

Repotting

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

Tip: Plant it in April in a sheltered spot and pile leaves around the base in October. In spring, wait before cutting out brown branches until you can see which have survived the winter.

Hebe: when to prune it?

Pruning months: April.

When: In April, when the risk of frost is over and new shoots start to grow.

How:

• Trim the dome lightly, about a third of the young shoots, just above a few leaves.
• Cut dead and frost-damaged branches back to healthy wood, which is often only clearly visible in May.
• Remove spent flower spikes in autumn or spring.

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 8–10 cm from non-flowering shoots, strip the lower leaves and insert in sandy compost. Usually rooted in 3–5 weeks.

Seed

Cultivars do not come true from seed; cuttings are the reliable method.

Hebe: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −10 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• Moderately hardy, to about −10 °C: usually fine on the coast and in sheltered gardens, but it can freeze in hard winters inland.
• In October pile leaves or straw around the base and wrap young plants in fleece during hard frost.
• In a pot: move it somewhere frost-free, such as a cold conservatory or a bright cellar, and water sparingly.

Diseases and pests

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

Through the year

• April: Planting. Light trimming. Feed.
• May: Planting. Cut out frost damage.
• June: Water in dry weather.
• July: Flowering begins. Take semi-ripe cuttings.
• August: Flowering. Cut off spent spikes.
• September: Flowering, plenty of butterflies.
• October: Last flowers. 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.

Butterflies

Nectar for butterflies.

Did you know?

• Hebes were long treated as a genus of their own, but are now placed in Veronica (speedwell); the New Zealand species form a separate group within it.
• The name Hebe refers to the Greek goddess of youth.
• Thanks to its leathery leaves, the coastal hebe tolerates sea wind better than many other shrubs.