hebe
( HEEB )
At-A-Glance InformationThe genus Hebe, also called Shrubby Veronica, includes evergreen shrubs that are native to New Zealand and need regular water and full sun. The summertime flowers present in some species will attract butterflies to your garden. These shrubs have attractive foliage and are fast-growing, especially in areas with cool summers and mild winters. Hebe shrubs can take coastal conditions but are damaged by frost. Use these shrubs in mixed beds, rock gardens, grown in pots on patios or walkways, or to edge lawns and pathways.
|
Hebe Species and Varietals
The genus Hebe was once a standalone genus, but is now included under the genus Veronica. There are about 90-100 species in this genus, and it is included in the plant family Plantaginaceae. The genus Hebe was named for the Greek goddess of youth. Hebe shrubs grow well in zones 14-24, though this varies somewhat depending on the species grown. For more information, see the species descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Hebe glaucophylla Best in zones 5-7 and 14-24, this species forms a rounded, small shrub that tops out at 2 feet tall and just as wide. The leaves are rounded and bluish-green, and flowers are white, forming in dense clusters. These shrubs are great for hiding foundations and as a border planting in between lawns and pathways. |
Hebe odora (Hebe buxifolia) (Boxleaf Hebe) This species has a rounded, symmetrical form to 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide, and grows best in zones 5-7 and 14-24. This species can be easily trimmed into a neat, 3-foot tall hedge. Leaves are small and dark green, and produces small white flowers that bloom in clusters. Varieties include 'Nana' (to 8 inches tall and a bit wider), 'New Zealand Gold' (with glossy green foliage edged with yellow). |
Hebe pinguifolia This species has blue-grey foliage and reaches 3 feet tall and just as wide. Foliage sometimes has a pinkish border. It grows well in zones 5-7, 14-17, and 22-24. Flowers are profuse, tiny and white, and foliage is somewhat overlapping. Popular varieties include 'Pagei' (low-grower to 9 inches tall and 4 feet wide), and 'Sutherlandii' (to 1.5 feet tall and 3 feet wide with grey foliage). |
Hebe 'Red Edge' (Hebe albicans 'Red Edge') This species grows well in zones 5-7 and 14-24, and forms a mound 2 feet tall and just as wide. Leaves are bluish grey and are bordered with red. Red border will show more in new growth and if weather is cool. Flowers are pale lilac and bloom in short spikes. This popular species is dependable, great for containers. |
caring for and pruning hebe shrubs
These easy-care shrubs are best in areas that have cool summers and mild wintertime temperatures. Plant in full sun unless you are in an area with high temperatures, in which case Hebes enjoy afternoon shade. When grown in full shade conditions, Hebe shrubs will become a bit leggy and not flower as well. They can tolerate a wide range of soils, but do prefer well-draining planting medium with a pH of between 7.0 and 8.5 (though they can take soil anywhere between mildly acidic to alkaline). Amend soil with organic matter before planting to give these shrubs a head-start on establishing themselves in the garden.
Once established, these plants are simple to care for. Apply a balanced fertilizer once a year in late winter or early springtime to support new growth. Deadhead as needed to remove spent blooms and neaten the appearance of the shrub; they can be cut back halfway in wintertime when they go dormant. This is a good practice if your Hebe shrubs are getting a bit leggy. Although these shrubs are generally drought-tolerant once established, they do benefit from extra water and will flower and perform better overall with regular waterings.
Once established, these plants are simple to care for. Apply a balanced fertilizer once a year in late winter or early springtime to support new growth. Deadhead as needed to remove spent blooms and neaten the appearance of the shrub; they can be cut back halfway in wintertime when they go dormant. This is a good practice if your Hebe shrubs are getting a bit leggy. Although these shrubs are generally drought-tolerant once established, they do benefit from extra water and will flower and perform better overall with regular waterings.
Propagation
Hebe can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, and that plants grown from seed will sometimes take a bit longer to establish themselves and start to flower. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Hebe by Cutting
Propagating Hebe by Seed
Propagating Hebe by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Hebe by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds.
- Caesalpinia seeds have a hard coating that protects them, but this coating also makes it a little difficult to get them to germinate. We can help the process along by scarifying them with sandpaper (or simply rubbing them against an abrasive surface). Do this with as many seeds as you can; they will probably not all sow, and the ones that do will be of varying characteristics. The more seeds you plant, the more chances you will have to get the resulting shrub you want. Place your seeds in lukewarm water for six hours. Viable seeds will sink to the bottom, and non-viable seeds will float to the top. You can discard any seeds that float.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Problems and pests
Hebe shrubs are generally pest free, but do have some issues, including:
- Fusarium Wilt
- Septoria Leaf Spot
- Verticillium Wilt
Gallery
Plant multiple species of Hebe in the same planting bed for a mix of textures and color.
|
The flowers on Hebe shrubs do well in mixed beds, and will attract butterflies and other pollinators to your garden.
|
Hebe shrubs can sometimes look a bit like smaller Cypress shrubs, and add pops of grey-green color to the garden.
|
videos
All you need to know about Hebe shrubs.
|
How to grow Hebes in your garden.
|
How to prune your Hebe shrubs.
|
How to grow and care for Hebe shrubs.
|
Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 164-166 Arctostaphylos
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!