Midsummer Beauty hebe

Sun

Full sun for the best flowering; tolerates light partial shade. Shelter from cold, drying winds.

Water

Water regularly during establishment, then during prolonged dry spells. Keep container plants evenly moist but never waterlogged.

Soil

Well-drained soil, preferably moderately fertile. Avoid heavy ground that stays wet in winter.

Height

5-8 ft (1.5-2.4 m)

Spread

5-8 ft (1.5-2.4 m)

Flowers

Summer into autumn; long spikes of lilac-purple flowers fade to pale lilac or white.

Foliage

Evergreen, narrow, lance-shaped, glossy green leaves; young growth is often flushed purple.

Growth

Moderate to fast in mild conditions.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• 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

   2.8 ft (0.86 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.2 m)

4. After 3 years

   5 ft (1.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   6 ft (2 m)

   full size

About 4 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

Fast

• Water deeply during the first growing season, allowing the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings.
• Apply a thin compost mulch in spring, keeping it away from the stems.
• Feed sparingly; use a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor.
• Protect young plants with horticultural fleece during sharp frosts, particularly near the cold end of its range.
• Grow in a container with drainage holes where winter shelter is necessary, and move it to a bright, frost-free place before hard freezes.

Pruning. In spring, once frost risk has passed, remove dead or frost-damaged shoots and lightly shorten straggly growth into leafy stems. Snip off spent flower spikes if practical, but avoid cutting hard into bare old wood because regrowth can be unreliable.

Spring

Plant after severe frost risk has passed, choosing a sheltered site with good drainage.

Spring

Remove frost-damaged shoots once new growth shows which stems are alive, then apply a light compost mulch.

Summer

Water young plants and containers during dry weather; avoid leaving pots standing in water.

Late summer

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

Autumn

Remove spent flower spikes if desired, but avoid substantial pruning before winter.

Winter

Protect against severe frost and check that rain drains freely from the root area and containers.

• Use as an evergreen anchor in a sunny mixed border, allowing room for its broad mature shape.
• Combine with lavender, rock roses and ornamental grasses in a well-drained coastal border.
• Plant as a loose flowering screen in mild gardens rather than clipping it into a formal hedge.
• Grow in a large patio container where its flowers can be seen closely and winter shelter is available.

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

Plant it with: Lavender, Rock rose, Rosemary, Agapanthus, Catmint and Blue oat grass.

Wildlife: The flowers provide nectar for bees and other pollinating insects. Its evergreen branches also offer shelter for small garden wildlife.

• Frost and cold-wind damage can blacken leaves and kill shoots. Choose a sheltered position, protect during severe freezes, and wait until spring growth starts before removing damaged wood.
• Root rot can cause yellowing, wilting and collapse in wet soil. Improve drainage or move to a raised bed or free-draining container; do not keep watering already wet roots.
• Leaf spot can mark foliage, especially in damp, crowded conditions. Remove badly affected leaves, improve airflow and water at soil level.
• Aphids may cluster on soft new shoots. Wash them off with water and encourage ladybirds and other natural predators.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no particular plant part is recognised as poisonous. It is not an edible plant, and eating substantial amounts may still cause stomach upset.

• Great Orme hebe (Hebe 'Great Orme')

  Has pink flowers that fade towards white, rather than the lilac-purple flowers of 'Midsummer Beauty', and generally broader leaves.

• Willow-leaved hebe (Hebe salicifolia)

  Also has long, narrow leaves and an upright shrubby habit, but its flower spikes are usually white or very pale lilac rather than distinctly lilac-purple.

Hebe is named after the Greek goddess of youth.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and root them in a free-draining medium under cover. Cuttings preserve the cultivar; seedlings will not reliably come true.

Accepted botanical name

Veronica Hebe 'Midsummer Beauty' is an older name for Veronica.

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