Overview

Hebe albicans is a shrub in the genus Hebe, part of the Plantaginaceae family. Hebe albicans grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates well-drained soils. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. It is native to New Zealand.

About

Hebe albicans is an evergreen New Zealand shrub valued for its thick, bluish leaves and compact habit, growing to about 0.6 m high by 0.9 m wide. It bears small white flowers on heads 3–6 cm long and has leaves roughly 1.5–3 cm long. The plant suits a sheltered site in full sun or partial shade and is hardy to about −5 °C. The Royal Horticultural Society has awarded it the Award of Garden Merit.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Veronica albicans

About the genus

Veronica sect. Hebe is a group of plants within the genus Veronica, native to New Zealand, Rapa in French Polynesia, the Falkland Islands and South America. It was formerly treated as the separate genus Hebe.

Wikipedia contributors, "Veronica sect. Hebe", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Veronica sect. Hebe

In the garden

Hebe albicans is a compact evergreen shrub in the Plantaginaceae, native to the mountainous parts of New Zealand. It produces dense, thick bluish foliage and bears small white flowers carried in heads some 3–6 cm long, providing a clear floral display over several months. Mature plants reach roughly 0.6 m in height and 0.9 m across. For best results plant in a sheltered spot with full sun or light shade, where air movement is reduced. It prefers well-drained soils kept on the moist side rather than bone dry, so a soil that holds some moisture but does not waterlog is ideal. It is classed H5 (hardy) and tolerates down to about −5 °C, so siting out of the coldest, exposed positions will prolong foliage and flower longevity. In a UK garden it works as a low evergreen element where a compact shrub is wanted; its size and season of interest make it suitable for the front of a sunny border or a small shrub bed in a sheltered corner. Gardeners prize it for reliable foliage through winter and the extended period of flowering. Its small white flowerheads appear from December to April.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Hebe

Sunlight

full sun, partial shade

Soil type

well-drained

Soil moisture

moist

Exposure

sheltered

UK hardiness

H5

Plant details

Hebe albicans size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

shrub

Native to

New Zealand

Frequently asked questions