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Hebe, or veronica, are a genus of evergreen shrubs in the Plantaginaceae family that originate from New Zealand and other parts of the southern hemisphere. Hebe are neat and colourful evergreen shrubs with beautifully white, purple, or pink flowers and ornamental leaves all year long and are named after the Greek goddess of youth, Hebe.
If you’re looking to add some vibrant shades and exotic texture to your garden, you might want to consider growing hebe. With their showy flowers, glossy leaves, and easy-to-grow nature, hebe varieties are a popular choice among UK gardeners. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these hebe varieties are sure to add beauty and interest to your garden.
Hebes come in many varieties, all with unique characteristics. Plant them in a pot or on your front lawn; they will never fail to grab attention with their eye-catching.
Here are 18 popular hebe varieties that can be grown in the UK.
1. Hebe Red Edge
The Red Edge Hebe is a delightful evergreen shrub that boasts a compact and mound-like shape, making it a charming addition to any garden. Its blooming season lasts all year round, showcasing pale lilac flowers that gradually shift to white as time goes by. The leaves of this shrub are uniform and well-kept, with a striking red margin that beautifully contrasts with the flowers. Additionally, this plant is quite resilient and can thrive in various regions throughout the UK.
2. Hebe Great Orme
Hebe Great Orme is an evergreen shrub. Its glossy, dark green foliage complements its deep purplish shoots, and during mid-summer to mid-autumn, it produces slender spikes of deep pink flowers that gradually turn white. Although it is not a fast-growing shrub, Great Orme can reach a height of 1.5 meters (5 feet) in a decade. For optimal results, it is recommended to plant this shrub in well-draining, moist soil and in an area that receives full sun.
3. Hebe Caledonia
Hebe Caledonia is a small and bushy evergreen shrub. Its lush leaves have a glossy, deep green hue tinged with a plum colour and are supported by elegant reddish-purple stems. During the months of June through September, the shrub is adorned with charming lavender flower spikes that are scattered throughout the plant. This distinctive and colourful shrub is a perfect fit for a pot container because it grows a maximum of up to 60cm over a span of four years.
4. Hebe Pinguifolia Pagei
Hebe Pagei is a hassle-free and easy-going evergreen plant that requires minimal pruning, making it an ideal choice for those who are new to gardening. This hebe variety has purple stems and blue-green, leathery leaves that remain intact throughout the year. From late spring to early summer, it adorns itself with numerous white flowers that cover the entire shrub. It thrives best in full sun and requires soil that is well-drained to ensure its healthy growth.
5. Hebe Rakaiensis
Hebe Rakaiensis is commonly known as shrubby veronica. It is a small, evergreen, dome-shaped shrub producing tiny, bright glossy green leaves and short, dense spikes of white flowers from early to mid-summer. It is among the tough hebe varieties which ask for low maintenance and stay colourful all year round. This hebe is very versatile and can be planted in beds, borders, or containers to add a coastal vibe to your garden.
6. Hebe Heartbreaker
Hebe Heartbreaker is known for its colour-changing foliage that transitions beautifully between spring and autumn. During summer, small lavender flowers appear on the tip of the branches, and the leaves turn into a deep shade of green with a cream border, which further turns vivid pink during winter when most of the plants lose their colour. This variety of hebe stays colourful throughout the year and is sure to add beauty whether used in pots or the garden as borders.
7. Hebe Autumn Glory
The Autumn Glory Hebe is a spectacular shrub that produces a volume of violet flowers from mid-summer to early fall. This plant is particularly effective when planted in groupings to create a mass of beautiful blooms. Its dark green foliage is edged with red and remains highly ornamental throughout the winter months. The glossy oval leaves with a contrast of burgundy stems are a lovely sight. This Hebe variety is relatively low maintenance, and pruning should only be done after flowering to preserve the current season’s flowers.
8. Hebe Pretty In Pink
Pretty in Pink Hebe is a lovely evergreen shrub that features lush green foliage on its fresh growth and produces beautiful clusters of pink flowers on its rounded, multi-branched form. It is a robust plant that can thrive in the Northwest region of the UK and prefers well-drained soil and regular watering during the growing period. You can use these adaptable shrubs to create stunning borders, add colour to your containers, or create an impressive mass planting.
9. Hebe Midsummer Beauty
Hebe ‘Midsummer Beauty’ is a hardy evergreen shrub that features glossy foliage all year round. Its young leaves are a deep purple hue, which gradually changes to a dark green as they mature. During the summer months, the shrub blooms with lilac-purple flowers that attract bees and butterflies. This plant is ideal for free-draining soil in sunny borders or containers, and it adds both colour and structure to any garden.
10. Hebe Boughton Silver
The Boughton Silver hebe is a small, round-shaped evergreen shrub with slender, slightly curving leaves that showcase striking silver-white hues. It produces eye-catching white bottle-brush spikes of flowers that enhance its aesthetic appeal. Regularly pruning the spent blooms helps keep the shrub looking lush and bushy. This plant prefers well-drained soil and requires consistent watering during the growth phase. These hebe varieties are compact and can be planted in small spaces or pots.
11. Hebe Blue Clouds
Hebe ‘Blue Clouds’ is an attractive evergreen shrub that looks beautiful all year round. It has a maximum height and width of 40 inches and has shiny, dark green lance-shaped leaves that turn dark purple during winter. The shrub produces mauve flowers in two blooming periods, from June to July and again from September to December. They require minimal pruning, with only misplaced or frost-damaged branches to be removed during late spring.
12. Hebe Oratia Beauty
There are several hebe varieties that are suitable for UK weather, and Hebe Oratia Beauty tops that list. It is a mighty shrub that can be 75 cm long and have thick leaves shaped like a spear. Leaves of Oratia Beauty are a little broader than leaves of other hebe varieties. It produces clusters of pink flowers in spring, which fade to white in summer. It is frost resistant and likes staying in the exposed area of the garden.
13. Hebe Emerald Gem
Hebe emerald gem is a small, evergreen shrub that has a rounded shape, making it a perfect choice for planting in rockeries, as well as the edge of a border. Its small, glossy emerald green leaves provide a beautiful backdrop for its summer blossom. The flowers grow on short stems in early summer and have a soft, delicate pink colour. This hebe variety is very easy to care for and will thrive in most garden soils, making it a popular choice for gardeners.
14. Hebe Ochracea James Stirling
Hebe ochracea James Stirling is an exquisite evergreen shrub that forms a rounded shape and showcases delicate spikes of light green-yellow leaves. This compact shrub is ideal for adding some greenery to various areas, such as rockery displays or borders. In summer, beautiful white flowers appear at the branch tip. This is one of those hebe varieties that are reliable and hardy and can thrive in the UK climate.
15. Hebe Buxifolia Patty’s Purple
Hebe Buxifolia Patty’s Purple is a compact and rounded shrub with densely packed deep green leaves along its branches. This shrub typically grows to a height and width of 2-3 feet but can be pruned to achieve a desired shape and size. During late spring through summer, clusters of purple flowers adorn the shrub, adding to its charm. Although it prefers consistent summer moisture, it can tolerate drought in coastal environments if provided some shade.
16. Hebe Wiri Cloud
Hebe Wiri Cloud is also called Shrubby Veronica. It is a sturdy evergreen shrub with pale green leaves and produces stunning deep pink flower spikes in summer that gradually turn lighter. This allrounder thrives in various settings such as beds, borders, banks, slopes, and even in pots. Ideal for non-grass gardens and balconies. It is also very suitable for the UK climate and growing conditions.
17. Hebe Cupressoides Boughton Dome
Hebe cupressoides dome is one of the low-growing hebe varieties. It makes a small rounded dome, which looks stunning in any corner of your garden. The small, grey-green leaves have a very fine texture, and they are evergreen. Unlike most of the dome hebe varieties, this one does not produce any flowers and grows very slowly. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun to flourish.
18. Hebe Albicans
Hebe albicans is a frost-hardy, spreading evergreen shrub with small green leaves arranged in whorls around its stem. It yields small white flowers in tight clusters at the end of its branches during the early summer months. This adaptable plant can be used as a low informal hedge or planted in various locations. Its fluffy flower heads and neat habit adds a touch of elegance to your garden.
Which Hebe Variety Would You Prefer For Your Garden?
Whether you want a modern look for your garden or you want to decorate it more traditionally, there are hebe varieties for every design. They are easy to grow, need minimal care, and look beautiful just anywhere. Its colourful blooms and perfectly shaped leaves make them a perfect addition to your garden. Most of the hebe varieties are frost-hardy and can grow pretty well in UK climate conditions.
Its exotic appeal and aromatic presence are sure to attract people and pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden, and hebes can also help prevent soil erosion, therefore improving the overall health of your garden. Use them on formal edges or informal borders, inside your house in pots, or on the lawn; their colours won’t fail to please every time you look at them.
These 18 hebe varieties are worth considering for your next gardening project. So pick your favourites and start planting!
