Hardy Hebes – 6 Outstanding Hardy Evergreen Hebe Plants

Six varieties of superb hardy Hebes. Hebes are the ultimate foliage plant, uniform compact and colourful are all words that best describe these wonderful shrubs and they’re also evergreen so they keep their spectacular foliage all year giving you interest from the first day of the year to the last.

Named after the Greek Goddess of youth Hebes will add a breath of fresh air to any garden. Hebe Nicola’s Blush is one of the most popular. 

Hebes are loved for their low-growing domes of densly packed leaves and are excellent at providing contrast and texture in a border as well as in patio containers.

Hebes are virtually maintenance free shrubs fully frost hardy and tolerant of drought shade sun and poor soil and very slow growing meaning you can plant them pretty much anywhere and just leave them to their own devices!

Where can I buy Hebe Pewter Dome?

All Hebes in this collection beautifully complement each other.

Hebe Heartbreaker

This spectacular Hebe ‘Heartbreaker’ is a real breakthrough in breeding. Its beautiful grey-green leaves with their alluring cream margin explodes into a vibrant pink during the spring months adding a burst of colour into any garden. What’s more it produces a mass of small pretty mauve flowers during the summer making this Hebe a true all year round beauty! Its compact habit makes it a great addition to borders and really shines when you plant it in a container. The Hebe ‘Heartbreaker’ is a truly wonderful upright and compact evergreen shrub which will grow to about 75cm high and wide in around 4 years making it a fantastic specimen plant for any garden or patio.

Hebe Emerald Green Globe

Known as both Emerald Green and Green Globe this small evergreen shrub has a dense globular habit made up of small branches covered in tiny moss green foliage and topped with white flowers in summer. It is an ideal plant for use en-mass to provide attractive evergreen ground cover.

Hebe Sapphire Hebe Purple

Sapphire is a fantastic small evergreen flowering shrub with mid-green lance-shaped leaves. From early summer to late autumn it bears upright spikes of pretty Blue-purple flowers. Lovely bushy plants supplied full of bud/in flower in season.

Hebe albicans Red Edge

This lovely looking Hebe has red tinted new growth. The leaves have narrow red margins and veining when young and creates a real contrast in both the summer and winter garden with its unusual colour. Hebe albicans Red Edge looks great all year round and in the summer it produces pretty lilac-blue flowers fading to white among grey-green. This small spreading evergreen shrub makes an attractive low informal hedge or edging plant for a mixed border and looks fantastic as part of a collection of Hebe plants set out together. Red Edge is a dense low growing compact evergreen shrub and like all Hebes it’s very easy to care for.

Hebe Vernicosa

Pale lilac and white flowers immerse this free blooming compact evergreen shrub in summer leaving you to wonder if you’ll ever spot the glorious glossy green foliage ever again. This is retained all year with the plant doing best in well drained soil with sun or a little shade. Like all hebes this plant has originated from the windswept areas of New Zealand making it tolerant of a wide variety of conditions including costal gardens.

Hebe Pewter Dome

A neat plant that forms as its name suggests a dome of grey green leaves. The ever green foliage is compact and covered in late spring or early summer with an abundance of dense heads of small white flowers that attract beneficial bees and butterflies. It is an easy and reliable plant for using at the front of a border or in containers. Ideal for creating evergreen ground cover anywhere in your garden. Great in pots or containers or planted in the ground mixed with other shrubs or simply with other Hebe varieties.

Remember this is just an example of some of the varieties that make up our Hebe collections. All these Hebe varieties have  a nice winter colour so they offer more than just flower value in the summer garden. They are absolutely outstanding for adding a structure to the winter scene.

These plants give a wonderful effect in the garden what ever the season.

Hardy Hebes: The Perfect Choice for UK Gardens

Hebes are versatile, evergreen shrubs native to New Zealand that have become a popular choice for gardens across the United Kingdom. Known for their attractive foliage, vibrant flowers, and low maintenance requirements, hardy Hebes are an ideal addition to any UK garden. In this article, we will explore the key features of these resilient plants, the best varieties for UK gardens, and tips for planting and caring for your Hebes.

Why Choose Hardy Hebes?

  1. Attractive foliage: Hebes display a wide variety of foliage textures and colors, from silver to green and variegated varieties, making them an excellent choice for adding interest to your garden all year round.
  2. Vibrant flowers: Hebes produce abundant, colorful flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, and blue, which typically bloom from spring to early autumn. These blossoms are not only visually appealing but also attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, promoting biodiversity in your garden.
  3. Low maintenance: Requiring minimal pruning and care, Hebes are perfect for gardeners seeking low-maintenance plants. They are also generally pest and disease-resistant, making them a hassle-free choice for your garden.
  4. Versatility: With their compact growth habit, Hebes can be grown in containers, borders, rockeries, or as ground cover. They can also be used as a low-growing hedge or as a focal point in your garden.

Hardy Hebe Varieties for UK Gardens

While there are over 100 species of Hebe, not all of them are hardy enough to withstand the colder temperatures of UK winters. Here are a few hardy Hebe varieties that thrive in the UK climate:

  1. Hebe 'Autumn Glory': This compact variety features glossy, dark green leaves and produces deep violet-blue flowers from late summer to early autumn. It can reach a height and spread of 3-4 feet (90-120 cm) and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 7-9.
  2. Hebe 'Red Edge': A small variety with grey-green leaves that have a red margin during colder months. It produces pale lilac flowers in summer and can reach a height of 1-2 feet (30-60 cm). It is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 7-9.
  3. Hebe 'Great Orme': A larger variety with an upright growth habit, this Hebe has bright green leaves and produces spikes of pink flowers that fade to white throughout the summer. It can reach a height of 4-5 feet (120-150 cm) and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 8-9.
  4. Hebe 'Youngii': A compact, dome-shaped Hebe with dark green leaves and purple-blue flowers in summer. It reaches a height of 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 7-9.

Planting and Caring for Your Hebes

  1. Location: Hebes prefer well-draining soil and a position with full sun to partial shade. They can tolerate coastal conditions and some air pollution, making them suitable for urban and seaside gardens.
  2. Soil: Plant your Hebes in a well-draining, fertile soil. They prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
  3. Planting: Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and slightly deeper. Gently loosen the roots and place the Hebe in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Fill the hole with soil, firming it around the base of the plant. Water thoroughly after planting.
  4. Watering: Hebes are relatively drought-tolerant once established but will benefit from regular watering during the first year to encourage root growth. During dry spells, ensure your Hebes receive adequate water, but avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot
  5. Fertilising: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring to promote healthy growth and flowering. Be careful not to over-fertilize, as this can cause excessive growth and reduce the plant's hardiness.
  6. Pruning: Minimal pruning is required to maintain the shape of your Hebes. Remove any dead or damaged branches in late winter or early spring, and lightly trim to shape the plant after flowering, if needed. Avoid heavy pruning, as Hebes may not recover well from severe cuts.
  7. Pests and diseases: Hardy Hebes are generally pest and disease-resistant. However, they may occasionally be affected by aphids or leaf spot. Keep an eye on your plants and treat any issues promptly with appropriate measures, such as insecticidal soap for aphids or fungicides for leaf spot.Hardy Hebes are a fantastic addition to UK gardens, offering year-round interest, vibrant flowers, and low maintenance requirements. By selecting the right varieties and providing basic care, you can enjoy these versatile, evergreen shrubs in your garden for years to come.