Other Names:  Willow Leaf Hebe, Veronica salicifolia

Description:

An upright, rounded evergreen shrub with interesting, narrow, spear shaped foliage that are olive green and glossy; lovely white or pale lilac flowers in stunning contrast; an excellent addition to the shrub border

Ornamental Features

Koromiko has masses of beautiful corymbs of white flowers with lilac purple overtones rising above the foliage from early to mid summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. It has attractive olive green evergreen foliage. The glossy narrow leaves are highly ornamental and remain olive green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Koromiko is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Koromiko is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Koromiko will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 9 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America.

Koromiko makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.