Great Orme hebe

Sun

Full sun for the best flowering; tolerates light partial shade.

Water

Water regularly during establishment. Once established, water during prolonged dry spells; keep container plants evenly moist without leaving them standing in water.

Soil

Well-drained soil of average fertility, from slightly acidic to alkaline. Avoid heavy soil that stays wet in winter.

Height

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Flowers

Summer into autumn; long spikes of pink flowers that fade towards white.

Foliage

Glossy, lance-shaped green leaves carried in opposite pairs on branching evergreen stems.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.1 ft (0.64 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.6 ft (0.78 m)

4. After 3 years

   3 ft (0.92 m)

5. After 5 years

   4 ft (1.2 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant in spring in colder areas, choosing a sunny position sheltered from cold, drying winds.
• Water deeply during the first growing season whenever the root zone begins to dry.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy feeding that encourages soft growth.
• Mulch around the roots, keeping mulch clear of the stem bases.
• Use a container with drainage holes and move it to a bright, frost-protected place during severe cold.

Pruning. Lightly trim after the main flowering flush to remove spent spikes and maintain a rounded shape. Remove frost-damaged shoots in spring once new growth shows where stems are alive; avoid cutting hard into old, leafless wood.

Spring

Plant new shrubs after the risk of severe frost has passed, and water them in thoroughly.

Mid-spring

Remove dead or frost-damaged shoots and apply a light compost mulch.

Summer

Check soil moisture during dry weather, especially around young plants and in containers.

Late summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, non-flowering shoots.

Early autumn

Remove faded flower spikes and lightly tidy the outline without hard pruning.

Winter

Protect container plants from severe frost and check that pots and beds drain freely.

• Plant in a sunny coastal border with lavender and ornamental grasses for evergreen structure and summer colour.
• Use as a loose, low informal hedge where winters are mild.
• Grow in a large patio container to bring flowers and evergreen foliage close to seating.
• Combine with salvias and other flowering perennials as a rounded shrub anchor in a mixed border.

Garden styles it suits: Coastal, Cottage garden, Mediterranean, Pollinator garden, Low-maintenance and Small-space.

Plant it with: Lavender, Rosemary, Hardy salvias, Sea thrift and Blue fescue.

Wildlife: The flowers provide nectar for bees, butterflies and other visiting insects; the evergreen branches offer small amounts of shelter.

• Winter wet and root rot: improve drainage before planting, avoid waterlogged sites and never leave pots standing in saucers of water.
• Frost and cold-wind damage: choose a sheltered site, protect during severe cold and wait until spring growth appears before removing damaged stems.
• Downy mildew: allow space for air circulation, avoid wetting the leaves when watering and remove affected foliage.
• Leaf spots: clear fallen infected leaves, water at soil level and thin crowded neighbouring growth.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No particular part is recognised as poisonous, but it is not an edible plant and eating it may cause stomach upset.

• Midsummer Beauty hebe (Hebe 'Midsummer Beauty')

  Usually grows taller and more open, with longer, narrower leaves and lilac to lavender flowers rather than the pink-to-white flowers of Great Orme.

• Autumn Glory hebe (Hebe 'Autumn Glory')

  Has smaller, darker leaves, often with purple colouring, and violet-purple flowers rather than long pink flower spikes.

Hebe takes its name from the Greek goddess of youth.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and root them in a free-draining medium under cover. Use cuttings rather than seed to preserve the cultivar's characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Veronica Hebe 'Great Orme' is an older name for Veronica.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.