HEBE. Southern Hemisphere, mostly New Zealand. Popularly known as veronicas, the hebes are among the most used and abused of shrubs in California. They are quite variable in habit, with opposite leaves arranged in neat rows along the stems and dense spikes of small, sometimes showy flowers. They are often used as foundation shrubs, and some are employed as low hedges. Sun, well drained soil, moderate to occasional watering when established. The following are hardy to 18^oF or less.

‘Amy’. A rather stout-stemmed selection with glossy 2-3" leaves, dark green tinged with purple on their upper surface, purplish red beneath. It bears dense clusters of reddish purple flowers at the shoot tips, most heavily in summer but scattered throughout the year.

buxifolia. Growing slowly to 3-5’ high, this species is easily restrained or trained as a low hedge by light shearing. The stems are closely packed with small, narrow-oval, bright green leaves. Its small, roundish clusters of white flowers are only moderately decorative.

carnosula. A tidy, mounding shrub of about 1’ by 2-3’. It has small greyish green leaves, much resembling those of the better-known H. glaucophylla (see below), and small white flowers. It is reputedly one of the hardiest of the hebes.

‘Coed’. One of the most ornamental cultivars, this is a globe shaped bush 3-5’ tall. It has 1-2" dark green leaves, shiny on their upper surface, and showy spikes of reddish purple flowers from late spring to fall.

glaucophylla. A tidy shrub growing about 1’ high, with greater spread. The leaves are closely packed and quite grey in color. The flowers—when produced—are white.

‘Margret’ (U.S. Plant patent #8231). A very tight, almost hemispherical shrub, alleged to remain under 2’ high. It has closely packed, elliptical bright green leaves. Short clusters of lavender-blue flowers are carried near the shoot tips through the summer months.

“mckeanii”. This plant is something of a mystery. It was thought to have been received from the UCSC Arboretum, which disavows all responsibility for either the plant or its name. The plant is extremely congested, with spreading main branches and closely packed, more or less erect, slender branchlets. These are tightly packed with narrow, pointed, bright green leaves, each under 1/4" long. Flower clusters, if they appear at all, are small and white.

menziesii. One of the more delicate in appearance of the “hedge hebes”. It can grow as much as 5’ high but is usually less. The spreading branches are closely lined by narrow, shiny, bright green leaves, which are held nearly in the same plane. The small white flower clusters are attractive, though not particularly showy.

‘Patty’s Purple’. An old standby among hebes, successful under widely varying conditions. It grows 3-4’ tall and nearly round, left to its own devices; however it is easily shaped into hedges and other masses by shearing. The leaves are closely packed and bright to deep green in color. Masses of lilac to bright lavender (never really purple) flower clusters decorate the plant in summer.

‘Red Edge’. A hybrid or selection of H. albicans, sharing its greyish stems and attractive grey-green leaves. It is dome-shaped and compact, growing slowly to about 2’ high. The leaves are short, colored grey-green overall and (as one might conceivably guess from the name), narrowly margined in deep red. In winter they are tinged with red throughout. It blooms from midsummer to fall, carrying small clusters of pale mauve flowers which fade to white.