Other Names:  Shrubby Veronica

Description:

A superb, upright evergreen shrub with fine, silver-gray foliage held tightly on blackened stems; spikes of white flowers appear on the branch tips in summer; a great informal hedge or border accent; will tolerate some mild frost, but should be sheltered

Ornamental Features

Western Hills Hebe is covered in stunning spikes of white flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late summer. It has attractive grayish green foliage with hints of silvery blue. The small oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain grayish green throughout the winter. The black stems are very effective and add winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Western Hills Hebe is an open 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 can be pruned at anytime. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Western Hills Hebe is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Western Hills Hebe will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a fast 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.

Western Hills Hebe makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants 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.