Hebes are diverse evergreen shrubs, primarily native to New Zealand, with some varieties from Australia and South America. These versatile plants offer year-round interest and are suited for various garden styles due to their range of forms, foliage, and flower colors. Their adaptability makes them a popular, low-maintenance choice for many gardeners.
Understanding Hebe Plant Characteristics
Hebes are evergreen shrubs, with continuous foliage year-round. Their leaves exhibit remarkable diversity, varying in shape, size, and color, from glossy green to variegated or those with a purple or reddish tinge. Hebe varieties produce flower spikes in shades of pink, purple, or white, often blooming from summer into autumn.
These flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Hebe sizes range from low-growing groundcovers to small shrubs reaching up to 6 feet tall, allowing for varied applications in the garden. Most Hebes are hardy in USDA zones 7-11, with some hardier options surviving down to zone 6, especially smaller-leaved varieties.
Exploring Popular Hebe Varieties
‘Autumn Glory’ is a compact shrub, growing to about 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide, featuring deep green foliage with purple edges that intensify in winter. It produces violet-purple flower spikes from mid-summer through autumn, attracting pollinators. This variety is suited for borders and containers, tolerating full sun to partial shade.
‘Red Edge’ is a popular choice, a rounded, mounding evergreen shrub reaching about 1.5 to 2 feet tall and wide. Its gray-green leaves are margined with red, with this coloration becoming more pronounced in colder months. ‘Red Edge’ produces pale lilac or white flowers in summer, making it suitable for low hedging, borders, and containers. It tolerates salt-laden air, making it suitable for coastal gardens.
‘Emerald Gem’ is a compact, dense dwarf evergreen shrub that grows 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. It has tiny, glossy apple-green leaves densely arranged on upright branches, creating a rounded, almost topiary-like form. While it may produce small white flowers in summer, its primary appeal lies in its neat foliage and low-maintenance habit, making it ideal for rock gardens, containers, or edging.
‘Wiri Cloud’ is a compact, rounded evergreen shrub that grows to 1 to 3 feet in height and spread. It features green foliage and produces soft pink to pale lilac flowers from late spring through autumn, attracting bees and butterflies. This low-maintenance variety is suited for borders, low hedging, rockeries, and containers, and tolerates light frosts and coastal conditions.
‘Great Orme’ is a larger Hebe, growing up to 4 feet tall and wide, with an open, rounded form. It has dark purple shoots and lance-shaped green leaves. From mid-summer to mid-autumn, it displays bright pink flowers on 2 to 4 inch spikes that fade to white. This variety is suitable for mixed borders, shrub borders, and containers.
‘Heartbreaker’ is a compact evergreen shrub growing about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide, with variegated foliage. Its green leaves are edged with creamy-white, and in colder weather, they develop pinkish-red hues, providing year-round visual interest. Small lavender flowers may appear in summer, but the foliage is its main attraction, making it suitable for small gardens, borders, or patio containers.
‘Pascal’ is a compact evergreen shrub, reaching 1 to 2 feet tall and wide, featuring lance-shaped green leaves. These leaves turn a burgundy-bronze color in autumn and winter, offering seasonal color. ‘Pascal’ produces lavender flower spikes during the summer, making it a good choice for front borders or containers due to its color-changing foliage.
Selecting the Ideal Hebe for Your Garden
Choosing the appropriate Hebe variety involves considering specific garden conditions. Hardiness is a primary factor; some varieties are more cold-tolerant than others, generally those with smaller leaves. Understanding the mature size of the plant is also important to ensure it fits the available space, whether for groundcover, border, or container planting.
Sun exposure is another consideration, as most Hebes thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Well-draining soil is important for Hebe health, as they do not tolerate waterlogged conditions. Considering the desired aesthetic, such as foliage color, flower bloom time, or overall form, will help narrow down the selection to varieties that complement the garden design.
Essential Hebe Plant Care
Light and Soil
Hebes are low-maintenance plants once established. They prefer full sun to partial shade, with well-draining soil essential to prevent root rot.
Watering
While tolerant of drought once mature, young plants require regular watering to establish a strong root system. A weekly watering schedule is sufficient for in-ground plants, with container-grown Hebes needing more frequent watering during warmer months.
Fertilization, Pruning, and Winter Protection
Fertilization is minimal; a balanced fertilizer can be applied in late winter or early spring to support growth, but over-fertilizing can lead to leggy growth. Pruning is best done after flowering to maintain shape, encourage new growth, and promote a bushier habit. Light trimming of spent flower spikes can encourage further blooms and keep the plant tidy. Protection from severe winter winds may be beneficial for less hardy varieties.