Hebe

Family. Scrophulariaceae.

Origin. New Zealand, South America, Australia.

Description. Hebe is a large genus of often low evergreen shrubs, consisting of more than 140 species. Some plants are even small trees 5-7 m high. The stems are erect, abundantly branched, woody at the base. The leaves are arranged in opposite whorls, elliptical, green, sometimes with a waxy glaucous bloom. Variegated varieties are distinguished by a white or yellow edging along the edge of the leaf blade. Some hebe have scale-like leaves resembling pine needles. The flowers are lilac, white, crimson or pink, small, but collected in multi-flowered cone-shaped inflorescences appearing at the tops of the stems.

Height. Reaches 75 cm, but is easily adjusted by trimming.

Care

Reproduction 

Vegetative – using semi-ripe cuttings 10-15 cm long, which are rooted in spring and summer in a warm place at a temperature of 20-25° C. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings and the bases are dusted with rooting powder. Young plants are covered with glass or plastic to maintain uniform humidity and kept in a well-lit place without direct sunlight.

Hebe at home 

An extremely unpretentious houseplant, content with nutrient-poor soils and rare watering. Annual pruning helps control the size of the bush. Pruning is carried out in early spring, removing weak and old shoots. The degree of pruning depends on the specific variety. Miniature varieties require only minimal adjustments. In the spring, take the hebe outside - it will be happy to be in the fresh air during the warm season.

Soil for growing

Hebe easily tolerates even poor substrates if they have good drainage. Soils with a slightly acidic, neutral or slightly alkaline pH are preferred. 

Diseases and pests 

In the absence of annual regulatory pruning, plants expose the lower part of the stems. Leaf spot and powdery mildew due to insufficient movement and high air humidity. Root rot occurs easily with excessive moisture.

Hebe is vulnerable to invasions of aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs.

Containment temperature

During the growth period, the flower is kept in a temperature range from 18 to 22 °C. The plant requires a cool winter at a temperature of 6 - 10 °C.

Lighting

A sunny location is preferred, but the plants tolerate partial shade. In conditions of too low light, the hebe becomes elongated, and flowering does not occur. 

Fertilizer

In spring and summer, feed with a high-potassium fertilizer at half strength every 2 weeks. During the dormant period, all fertilizers are excluded - let the bushes rest. Hebe responds well to organic feeding.

When it blooms

Spring.

Spraying

With the onset of summer heat, you can spray the leaves from time to time with water at room temperature. 

Watering

In spring and summer, plants prefer evenly moist soil. Excess moisture from the pan should be drained immediately after watering. In autumn, the frequency of watering is gradually reduced and in the winter months watering should be minimal. 

Transfer

As it grows or if it is necessary to change the soil to fresh soil in the spring, before flowering. 

Varieties:

Hebe andersonii

An evergreen ornamental deciduous shrub up to 90 cm high with abundantly branched shoots forming a spreading, rounded crown. It has thick, fleshy, oblong-oval, entire leaves of a dark green hue. There are variegated plants with cream, white or yellow stripes along the edges of the leaf blades. Inflorescences are apical cylindrical racemes, consisting of many small lilac flowers. 

Hebe pinguifolia

A rounded, multi-stemmed shrub with thin, branched stems. The leaves are thick, simple, oval, on short petioles, arranged in opposite pairs. The leaf blades are painted in a silvery or bluish-green shade. There are dwarf variations of the plant, reaching a height of 30 cm. During the flowering period, the plants form small apical brushes with attractive white flowers. 

Hebe cupressoides

Decorative-leaved, rounded, evergreen shrub up to 2 m high. The leaves are bright green, small - up to 1.5 mm long, often tightly adjacent to abundantly branched thin shoots. In the summer months, the plant decorates itself with apical inflorescences consisting of small lilac flowers. When damaged, shoots and leaves can emit a pleasant aroma. 

Hebe armstrongii

Evergreen spreading shrubs with repeatedly branched thin, green stems, reaching a height of 60 - 90 cm. The leaves are green or yellowish-green, small, scale-like, and can fit tightly to the stems. The flowers are white or purple and appear in small inflorescences at the tops of stems during the summer months.