How to Grow Hebe

Hebes offer year round structure and evergreen foliage with a burst of bright colour in summer and autumn. Provide sunny, well-drained conditions, and they'll thrive in rockeries, pots and garden beds. Whether you prefer formal, rounded mounds or dramatic flowers, we have a hebe to suit your garden.

Hebes (shrubby veronica) vary considerably in appearance, from ‘whipcord’ varieties like Hebe 'James Stirling' that look very similar to dwarf conifers to tall shrubs with spikes of bright purple or pink flowers, such as 'Midsummer Beauty'. Some species resemble box and work well as low hedges or edging plants, whereas others have dramatic pink-tinged variegated foliage.

Hebes are great plants for coastal gardens, as they can cope with salty air and grow well in thin soils. Most hebe plants are hardy in milder parts of the UK, but check before planting as harsh winters can kill them off. Once established, they're easy to look after and tolerant of neglect. 

The genus Hebe was reclassified as Veronica some time ago, but pretty much everyone (including the RHS) includes both names on plant labels and listings.

 

Where to plant hebes

Plant hebes in well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. Avoid planting them in damp, shade environments as you'll end up with leggy plants at best, and more likely, dead plants. Hebes can cope with a range of soil types and, as they don't require lots of nutrients, will grow in poor soils. They prefer neutral or alkaline conditions and will struggle in very acidic soils.

The hardiness of hebe varies, with some varieties being half hardy and others fully hardy in the UK. Cultivars with variegated leaves like Hebe 'Heartbreaker' are often less hardy. When planting in the ground, choose a part of your garden that's sheltered from icy winter winds, such as in front of a south or west-facing wall. You may need to move smaller container-grown shrubs into a greenhouse or cold frame over winter.

 

When to plant hebe

The best time to plant a hebe shrub is in late spring, around April or May, once the soil has warmed up after winter. You can also plant hebes during the summer, but avoid planting in winter as the young plants are likely to rot in wet soil.

 

How to plant hebe

Unlike many shrubs, you don't need to add compost to your soil before planting hebe. If your new plant has dried out in its container, give it a good soak while you're digging a hole twice the width of the pot. Plant your hebe shrub at the same depth it was in its container and backfill the hole with soil.

Hebes vary considerably in size, so check the final height and spread and leave enough space between plants when grouping shrubs together. If you want to plant a hebe hedge, space the plants 30–45 cm apart, depending on the variety.

You can grow small and medium-sized hebes in containers. Make sure your pot has plenty of drainage holes and enough space for the plant to grow. Mix coarse grit with multipurpose compost or a peat-free John Innes No. 2 or No. 3 compost and plant your hebe so the compost is at the same depth as in its original pot.

 

Care of hebe plants

Hebes are fairly drought tolerant, but new plants will need regular watering during the first summer to help them establish a strong root system. After this, they may need weekly watering during dry spells.

Keep an eye on plants grown in containers to make sure the compost stays moist but not overly wet. You'll need to feed shrubs in spring, and the plant may benefit from a further feed in early or mid-summer.

Hebes in pots are vulnerable to winter cold and can easily get waterlogged in winter, so if you have the space, it's best to move them into a greenhouse or cold frame and water them sparingly. If this isn't possible, make sure they're in a sheltered spot and raise the pots up on pot-stands or bricks to help excess water drain out.

Most hebes are hardy in average UK conditions, though they may suffer in extreme winters. Half hardy varieties, including 'Heartbreaker', 'Silver Dollar' and 'Rhubarb and Custard', may need winter protection unless your garden has a mild microclimate.

Pruning a hebe

Most hebes need very little pruning as they naturally form a neat, rounded shape. Deadheading flowering hebe plants when the flowers fade will help extend the flowering period.

Pruning hebes lightly can encourage fresh, bushy growth. The best time to trim hebe is in late summer, after the plant has finished flowering. For compact varieties, only cut back an inch or two – just enough to maintain the shape. Taller varieties can be pruned back further, though be careful not to cut into dead wood.

You may also want to prune a hebe in early spring to remove any overgrown or frost-damaged stems. Hebes don't respond well to hard pruning, though if you have nothing to lose, cut it back in spring to give it the best chance of rejuvenating.   

 

How to grow hebe from cuttings

Hebes can live up to a decade, though some end up looking leggy earlier than this. An unexpectedly harsh winter can decimate hebes, but fortunately, they're relatively easy to propagate from cuttings.

You can take softwood or semi-ripe cuttings from the non-flowering shoots of a hebe plant in summer. Small-leaved varieties will root from semi-ripe shoots. Remove the lower leaves and place the cuttings in a pot of moist, gritty compost. Cover the pot with a plastic bag or place in a propagator and overwinter in a frost-free location, taking care not to overwater the cuttings. You can pot up or plant out the cuttings the following spring.

 

Common problems

Hebe are generally trouble free and most issues relate to environmental conditions. If the soil becomes waterlogged, plants may experience root rot. Hebes can also suffer winter damage if exposed to cold winds or if the temperatures drop too low. The best way to avoid environmental problems is to understand your garden's microclimate and choose a plant that will thrive in these conditions.

If you grow hebe under glass, make sure there's sufficient ventilation or downy mildew and leaf spot fungi may be a problem. When planting outside, ensure plants are spaced to avoid overcrowding.

Aphids may affect young plants, but they're unlikely to seriously affect growth.

 

Our favourite hebe varieties

Hebe rakaiensis is a dense, dome-shaped variety with small, bright green leaves. It's a good alternative to box, though unlike buxus, it needs a sunny aspect. The reward is pretty white flowers in summer.

Hebe 'Heartbreaker' has gorgeous variegated green and white leaves that turn pink in cold weather and small purple flowers in summer. This is a compact, half hardy variety that may need winter protection.

Hebe 'Emerald Green' is a very small, rounded green shrub that looks wonderful in rockeries and container displays. You can also use it to edge flower beds in formal gardens.

Hebe 'Mrs Winder' is a mid-height (up to 1.2m) variety with glossy green leaves that turn reddish brown in winter. Spikes of violet-blue flowers appear in late summer and last through the autumn.

Hebe 'Midsummer Beauty' is a tall flowering hebe with large, narrow leaves. Grown for its abundant lilac-mauve flowers that last through summer and autumn, 'Midsummer Beauty' is ideal for a sheltered spot at the back of a large border.

 

FAQ

Do hebes die back in winter?

Hebes are evergreen shrubs, so the leaves stay on the plant year round. Not all hebes are fully hardy in the UK, and more tender varieties might die back if they're exposed to harsh winter conditions. Hebes also suffer from root rot in waterlogged soils, which can cause a plant to die. Make sure your hebe bush is planted in a suitable location and provide winter protection if needed to prevent these issues.

How big do hebe plants grow?

Taller varieties of hebe, such as 'Midsummer Beauty', grow up to 2 metres with a spread of 1.5 metres. Medium-sized plants like Hebe 'Mrs Winder' and Hebe 'Great Orme' grow to around a metre in height and spread, whereas compact varieties may grow to less than half a metre. 

Can hebes grow in shade?

Some hebes will grow in partial shade, but they won't thrive in full shade. These shrubs are sun lovers and planting them in shade will only lead to poor growth and disappointing flowering. If you want a flowering evergreen plant for shade, look at planting star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), which flowers in summer, sarcococca (flowers in winter) or a camellia (colourful spring flowers).

Can you grow hebe from cuttings?

You can grow hebe from softwood or semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer. Strip the leaves from the base of the cutting, place it in a pot of well-drained potting compost and cover it to keep the moisture in. In spring, you can pot up or plant out the cuttings, though the plants may not flower for a couple of years.

Can you grow hebe in a pot?

Smaller varieties of hebe, such as Hebe buxifolia, Hebe 'Green Mound' and Hebe 'Quicksilver', grow well in pots. Growing less hardy varieties of hebe in pots allows you to move them into a greenhouse over winter.