Hebe Wiri Charm

Sun

Full sun to light partial shade; best flowering in sun. Shelter from cold, drying winds.

Water

Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, water during prolonged dry spells; keep container plants from drying out completely.

Soil

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

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Reddish-purple to deep pink flower spikes in summer, often continuing into early autumn.

Foliage

Evergreen. Small, opposite, narrowly oval, dark green leaves on a dense, rounded shrub.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

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

Difficulty

Moderate

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

   1.8 ft (0.55 m)

3. After 2 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.1 ft (0.65 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 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 districts, choosing a sheltered spot with freely draining soil.
• Water deeply while establishing, then allow the soil surface to dry between waterings.
• Apply a light mulch in spring, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak; avoid heavy feeding and late-season nitrogen.
• Use a container with drainage holes and protect the root ball from prolonged freezing.

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; avoid cutting hard into bare old wood.

Spring

Plant once severe frost has passed, and water thoroughly.

Mid-spring

Check for winter damage and cut dead shoots back to healthy leafy growth.

Late spring

Apply a light mulch and, if needed, a modest feed.

Summer

Water new plants and containers during dry weather; trim spent flower spikes.

Late summer

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

Autumn

Check drainage and move pots away from exposed, frost-prone positions.

Winter

Protect plants during severe cold and avoid leaving containers in standing water.

• Plant along the front of a sunny mixed border for evergreen structure beneath taller perennials.
• Repeat in small groups beside paths or patios for a low, rounded rhythm.
• Grow in a large container with good drainage for year-round foliage and summer flowers.
• Combine with lavender, rock roses and ornamental grasses in a sheltered gravel garden.
• Use in mild coastal gardens where drainage is good and exposure is not extreme.

Garden styles it suits: Coastal, Dry gravel garden, Low-maintenance, Modern courtyard, Pollinator garden and Small-space.

Plant it with: Lavender, Rock rose, Catmint, Salvia, Blue fescue and Thrift.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for bees and other visiting insects. Dense evergreen growth offers small invertebrates shelter.

• Frost damage: shelter from cold winds, protect during severe freezes and wait until spring growth appears before removing damaged shoots.
• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage or grow in a raised bed or container; do not keep the root zone constantly wet.
• Aphids on soft shoots: rinse off small colonies with water and encourage natural predators.
• Leggy growth or a bare centre: provide more sun and trim lightly after flowering; replace badly woody plants rather than cutting hard into old stems.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Cultivar-specific information is limited; no particular part is recognised as poisonous, but it is not an edible plant.

• Hebe Wiri Mist (Hebe 'Wiri Mist')

  Another compact, small-leaved hebe, but its flowers are white rather than reddish-purple.

• Hebe Wiri Joy (Hebe 'Wiri Joy')

  Has pink flowers and a similar compact habit; flower colour overlaps, so a reliable nursery label is safer than identifying it by colour alone.

Hebe is named after the Greek goddess of youth.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer, using healthy non-flowering shoots and a free-draining propagation mix. Root under cover with gentle humidity; cuttings preserve the cultivar, whereas seedlings may differ.

Accepted botanical name

Veronica Hebe 'Wiri Charm' is an older name for Veronica.

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