Botanical name:

Hebe bollonsi

Common name(s):

Hebe

About:

This is a coastal hebe, which is commonly found on the Poor Knights Islands and several other northern offshore islands. It typically forms a rounded shrub that can grow to about 1 m in height, featuring slightly hairy branches and glossy dark green leaves that can reach lengths of up to 7.5 cm. During the summer, attractive white or pale lavender flowers emerge on loose racemes, adding visual interest to its appearance. This plant is an excellent choice for coastal plantings, although it is important to note that it can be frost tender and may require some protection in colder conditions.

Natural habitat: 

Petrel scrub, low wind shorn shrub-land and open coastal forest or on rock stacks. On the Poor Knights and Hen & Chicken Islands it is often in low wind shorn petrel scrub on exposed shore platforms or on slip scars or in wind damaged coastal forest. Frequent on rocky headlands and sometimes on rock stacks.

Growing environment:

Sun, Drought, Salt, Wind, Coastal & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North Island, outer Hauraki Gulf where it is mainly found on the Poor Knights and Hen & Chicken Island groups. Also local on rock stacks and headlands from Tutukaka north to about Mimiwhangata.

Height: 1m

Flowering: 

September - February (often sporadic throughout the year) with a Violet/Purple, White coloured flowers.

Fruiting: 

Throughout the year 

Uses: 

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food, Riparian plantings, Pioneer Plantings & Flowers. 

How to grow:

Easy from semi-hard wood cuttings and fresh seed. A spectacular shrub which deserves to be more widely grown. It is extremely floriferous. Plants respond well to a very hard pruning immediately after flowering - cut back by at least a third - and do best in full sun, in a free draining, fertile soil.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. Sow seeds direct & keep moist until germination is complete.