Other Names:  Shrubby Veronica

Description:

Pretty violet flowers that fade to white, grace this attractive shrub in late spring and summer; interesting burgundy stems and cup shaped, dark green leaves that turn purple in winter; perfect for adding lasting color to a shrub border or container

Ornamental Features

Champion Hebe has masses of beautiful corymbs of violet flowers rising above the foliage from late spring to late summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. It has attractive dark green foliage edged in red. The small glossy round leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding purple in the fall, which persists throughout the winter. The burgundy stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Champion Hebe is an open multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

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 is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Champion Hebe is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Champion Hebe will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. It has a low canopy. 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 particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.

Champion Hebe makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. 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.