How to Plant and Grow Hebe

Hebe (pronounced HEE-bee) is a large genus of evergreen shrubs from New Zealand. Dome-shaped, it boasts bold flower spikes in white, purple, and pink from summer to fall. Even without flowers, this multi-season plant, hardy in Zones 7-11, colors the landscape with evergreen foliage in green, whitish green, silver, or green tinged with cream or copper, depending on the species and cultivar.

Hebe was formerly included in the genus Veronica (hence the common name shrubby Veronica) but is now considered a genus of its own.

Where to Plant Hebe

Plant hebe in a sunny spot with well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. If your location is at the lower end of the zone range, protect it from chilly winter winds. Shelter it with a building or other plants. If you want to plant it in an exposed location, choose a compact variety less likely to be affected by low temperatures.

Hebe comes in a range of sizes so make sure to pick a variety that fits your space. Tall types also lend themselves to be grown as an evergreen hedge.

How and When to Plant Hebe

You can plant hebe all year long but spring or summer planting will give roots a chance to settle before cold temperatures arrive. Hebe is suitable for container planting.

Dig a hole at least twice the size of the container the shrub comes in. Place the plant in the hole and backfill it with original soil. Mulch around the base to preserve soil moisture and suppress weeds. Water immediately and keep the shrub well-watered until you see new growth. 

If planting it in groups, space the plants about 3 feet apart. For a hedge, leave 12 to 18 inches between plants depending on the mature size of the type.

Hebe Care Tips

Hebe is easy to cultivate and care for.

Light

Hebe needs 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day. Too much shade and it will become leggy and might cease blooming.

Soil and Water

Hebe requires well-drained, sandy soil with a pH between 7.0 and 8.5. Although relatively
drought-tolerant, this shrub requires about an inch of water a week in summer to maintain healthy, robust foliage and produce large, color-drenched blooms.

Temperature and Humidity

Hebe is marginally hardy in North America, often suffering from winter damage if temperatures are colder than average. Despite its hardiness, it does best when the weather is warm and mild but
low in humidity. Generally, the smaller the leaf, the better the cultivar or species can tolerate cold.

Fertilizer

Other than adding a layer of well-aged compost around the base in the spring, hebe does not need fertilizing; in fact, it can even do well in poor soil.

Pruning

Prune shrubs periodically to keep them from getting leggy. Deadhead flowers to encourage new growth, and when it's done flowering, cut it back by one third. It will look bushier that way.

Potting and Repotting Hebe

Choose smaller varieties of hebe if you want to grow them in containers. It's a good idea to pot them if you're planting in a cooler area so you can bring them indoors when the weather changes. Use a well-draining terra-cotta pot. Hebe will need repotting every two years when it outgrows its container.

Pests and Problems

Pests that will feed on hebe include aphids and spider mites. Rid your plants of them with horticultural oil or an organic insecticide. 

How to Propagate Hebe

Hebes are best propagated from cuttings between mid and late summer. Find a stem that is woody at the base, has fresh and soft green growth at the top, and no flowers. Take a cutting of about 4 to 6 inches in length just below a leaf node. Strip the leaves off the lower third of the cutting so that only a few leaves remain at the top.

Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder and insert the leafless portion in a 4-inch pot filled with damp potting mix. Keep the pot in a warm place with bright light but out of direct sunlight. Water the cutting regularly from the base. 

After about four weeks, the cutting should start rooting. Give it time to grow into a vigorous small plant before transplanting it in a garden bed or a container. If the plant isn’t ready before winter cold sets in, overwinter the young plant in its pot in a frost-free location with bright light, such as an unheated room or greenhouse.

Types of Hebe

'Grace Kelly' Hebe

Hebe 'Grace Kelly' is crowned with royal purple flowers in summer and fall. The flowers are a lovely complement to the variegated green-and-white leaves. Plants grow 2-3 feet tall and wide. Zones 8-10

Variegated Hebe

The cultivar Hebe speciosa ‘Variegata’ has variegated gray-green leaves with creamy margins. In early summer, it offers spikes of purple flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It grows 5 to 6 feet tall. Zones 7-10

'Wiri Blush' Hebe

Hebe 'Wiri Blush' sparkles with deep rose-pink flower spikes against shiny, dark green leaves with red edges. 'Wiri Blush' forms an excellent compact hedge. It grows 4 feet tall and wide. Zones 7-11