Hebes
What are they?
The hebes are a diverse group of evergreen, shrubby plants that originate mostly from New Zealand where they form a major part of the native flora. Plants vary from tiny alpines with scale-like, overlapping leaves, to large, spreading bushes that may grow to 3m or so in height. For a long time, these plants were included in the genus Hebe (and that name is still retained as an English name for them) but more recently, they were placed in Veronica as shrubby members of the speedwell genus.
Where are they found?
As introduced garden plants, hebes could, in theory, be found anywhere that garden debris is left, but many of the ornamental species of gardens do not seem to spread readily and most individuals likely to be found in the wider countryside occur in coastal locations where the milder climate suits them. However, the range of Hebes occurring and surviving outside of gardens may well increase over time with assistance from climate change.
Identification
The identification of hebes in general is complicated by the presence of many cultivated varieties that often differ only very slightly from each other and which are sometimes of uncertain parentage. Fortunately, many of these hybrids tend not to occur outside of gardens or are short-lived if not tended. Most plants can be identified by a combination of leaf size and shape, plus flower colour and shape of flower racemes. One feature peculiar to hebes is the presence or absence of a sinus at the base of the young leaves. This is a small gap, created at the base of the leaf pairs by the narrowing of the leaf blade into the leaf stalk.
Hedge Veronica Veronica x franciscana
A non-native plant, having originated in cultivation and grown as a garden ornamental. Commonly planted in gardens and used for hedging in coastal areas. Commonly self seeds and may be found as young seedlings in coastal towns. Flowers June to October or later. A spreading bush to 1.5m in height. Flowers deep blue-purple, in short, oblong racemes. Leaves 3-7cm long and 1.6-3.5cm across, thick and leathery. A hybrid between V. elliptica and V. speciosa.
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Koromiko Veronica salicifolia
Introduced from New Zealand as a garden ornamental. Commonly planted in gardens and sometimes found in amenity areas, churchyards and similar places. Flowers June to October. A large, spreading bush to 2m in height. Flowers usually white, but sometimes lilac-tinted, in long, tubular racemes. Leaves rather variable due to horticultural selection but mostly 7-12cm long and 1.5-1.8cm across and typically with a few, small, marginal teeth.
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Lewis's Hebe Veronica x lewisii
A non-native plant, having originated in cultivation and grown as a garden ornamental. Old plants are known from cliffs and a churchyard in Suffolk but this hybrid seems no longer to be in cultivation. Flowers June to October or later. A spreading bush to 3m in height. Flowers white (or opening pale lilac then fading to white), in short, oblong racemes. Leaves 5-10cm long and 1.6-2.5cm across, intermediate between those of the parents. A hybrid between V. elliptica and V. salicifolia.
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Hooker's Hebe Veronica brachysiphon
Introduced from New Zealand as a garden ornamental. Common in cultivation and recorded as sef-seeded in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Flowers June to August. A compact bush to 1m in height. Flowers white, in short, oblong racemes. Leaves small, 2-3cm long and 0.5-0.7cm across.
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Marjorie's Hebe Veronica 'Marjorie'
A hybrid of horticultural origin but of unknown parentage. Frequently grown as an amenity plant Flowers June to September. At first compact but eventually forming a more open, spreading shrub to 1.5m in height. Flowers lilac, fading to white in showy racemes. Leaves 3-4cm long, rich green, glossy, usually with a few remote teeth along the margin.
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Veronica 'Wiri Image'
A modern hybrid of horticultural origin introduced from New Zealand. Grown as a garden ornamental and amenity plant and recently found self-seeding in Sheringham, Norfolk. Flowers June to September. Very similar to the more widely grown Marjorie's Hebe but tending to stay more compact and with untoothed leaves that have no sinus when first emerging.
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Veronica 'Great Orme'
An old hybrid of horticultural origin, probably of the 'Carnea' Group which are thought to be hybrids between Veronica speciosa and V. parviflora. Grown as a garden ornamental and amenity. Flowers July to September. An open bush to about 1.8m in height. Flowers rich carmine pink, paling to white with age. Leaves rather narrow and parallel-sided, 5-9cm long.
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Veronica 'Mrs Winder'
An old hybrid of horticultural origin. Grown as a garden ornamental and amenity plant. Flowers August to October. An open bush to about 1.8m in height. Flowers rich carmine pink, paling to white with age. Leaves rather narrow and parallel-sided, 5-9cm long. A low shrub to aroun 1m in height. Leaves very dark green above, purple beneath. Flowers pinkish-mauve, late in the season.
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Snow Hebe Veronica albicans
Native to South Island, New Zealand. Grown as a garden ornamental and amenity plant. Flowers June to September. A low, rounded shrub to 60cm in height. Leaves glaucous grey-green, thick and slightly succulent. Flowers pink in bud, opening white, in short, dense racemes.
Veronica 'Red Edge' is similar and is often sold as a variety of this species, but it is probably a hybrid between V. albicans and V. pimeleoides. It has a reddish flush to the young growths and leaf margins.
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Rakai Hebe Veronica rakaiensis
Native to South Island, New Zealand. Grown as a garden ornamental and amenity plant. Flowers June to August. Typically a low, rounded shrub but may reach 100cm in height. Leaves slightly glossy, light green, thick and slightly succulent, up to 2cm in length. Flowers white, in short, dense racemes.
Often wrongly sold in horticulture as Veronica subalpina.
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Glaucous-leaved Hebe Veronica glaucophylla
Native to South Island, New Zealand. Grown as a garden ornamental and found seeding into nearby pavements in North Norfolk in 2025. Flowers June to August. A slender, upright bush with whispy branches and small, grey-green leaves, 1.4-2cm in length. Flowers white but typiclly only sparsely produced.
Plants sold in horticulture as Veronica glaucophylla 'Variegata' have smaller leaves with a cream margin. It is very different to the true species and seems likely to be a hybrid.
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