Botanical name:

Hebe elliptica

Common name(s):

Kōkōmuka, shore hebe, shore koromiko

About:

Found on the beautiful west coast of both islands from Cape Egmont southward, this resilient hebe species is often located quite close to the high-water mark. It typically forms a bush that reaches a height of 1-2 meters, adorned with small, dark green leaves that add to its appeal. The plant produces clusters of white to pale lavender flowers, which are notably bigger than those of most other hebes, and these blooms can be seen emerging in late spring and lasting through to the autumn months. This hebe is particularly tough and well-suited for thriving in extreme coastal conditions. Additionally, a prostrate form known as H. elliptica 'Prostrata' is also available for those looking for a different growth habit.

Natural habitat:

Grows in coastal areas, often in exposed places on rocks.

Growing environment:

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

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North, South, Stewart, Snares, Auckland and Campbell Islands. In the North Island scarce, known only from the west coast in scattered locations on the south Taranaki coast, on Kapiti Island, and Titahi Bay. Naturalised on Chatham (Rekohu) Island. Indigenous also to the Falkland Islands.

Height: 2m

Flowering:
(August-) November-March (-June) with a white or blue/purple coloured flowers.

Fruiting:

November-April (-October)

Uses:

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

How to grow:

Easily grown from semi-hardwood cuttings and layered pieces. An excellent coastal shrub which does well in most gardens but rarely flowers in northern New Zealand. Hebe elliptica is extremely variable, and some critical selection of the range of wild forms is needed. Plants from near Charleston are particularly distinctive in that they retain their flat, creeping habit in cultivation.

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