Introducing...
Hebe
These neat and colourful evergreen shrubs are ideal for a sunny border, providing summer flowers and year-round foliage. Compact types work well in containers or as border edgings, while larger types can be grown as hedging. The flowers are attractive to bees.
Looks
Hebes are bushy evergreen shrubs with purple, pink or white flowers in summer, and sometimes in spring or autumn. The leaves can be ornamental too, often tinged with pink or variegated. Plants range from 30cm (1ft) up to 1.2m (4ft) tall.
Likes
They like sunshine and need soil that drains freely. Most prefer a warm spot, and a few need protection from winter wet and cold. They also enjoy seaside conditions, coping well with salty breezes.
Dislikes
They won't thrive in very heavy, wet soil or deep shade. Large-leaved hebes are vulnerable to cold, and frost or chilly winds can damage the foliage. Hebes don’t respond well to hard pruning.
Did you know?
Hebes with small, scale-like leaves, similar to those on conifers, are called ‘whipcord’ hebes. Usually dense and compact, they are tougher than hebes with larger leaves.
Growing guide
How to grow hebe
All the information you'll need to grow and care for hebe in your garden.
Hebes we recommend
Hebe Midnight Sky (Garden Beauty Series)
hebe [Midnight Sky]
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Hebe ochracea 'James Stirling'
hebe 'James Stirling'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Hebe Midnight Sky (Garden Beauty Series)
hebe [Midnight Sky]
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Hebe ochracea 'James Stirling'
hebe 'James Stirling'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Useful advice
Containers: winter selection
Shrubs: smaller for year round interest
Container maintenance
Growing plants in containers
Shrubs: evergreen by size
Plants for coastal areas
Trees and shrubs: planting
Buying: trees and shrubs
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.