Botanical name:
Hebe subalpina
Common name(s):
Hebe
About:
A small shrub that typically grows to a height ranging from 90 cm to 1.5 meters, it features an abundance of small, shiny green leaves that add a vibrant touch to its overall appearance. During the spring and early summer months, crowded racemes of delicate white flowers emerge, creating a beautiful display. This particular shrub is native to the regions of Westland, Fiordland, and the wetter montane areas in Canterbury. In a garden setting, it demonstrates great adaptability, thriving in both sun and shade as well as in most reasonable growing conditions.
Natural habitat:
It grows in subalpine shrub-land, penalpine grassland, and sometimes in beech forest close to the tree-line or along streams.
Growing environment:
Frost, Sun, Salt, Shade, Wind, Coastal & Free draining tolerant.
Endemic distribution:
Widespread on New Zealand’s South Island, chiefly on wetter mountains on and west of the Main Divide, from the Wairau Valley to the Cameron Mountains.
Height: 1.5m
Flowering:
(November-) December-February with a white coloured flower/s.
Fruiting:
(December-) January-May
Uses:
Bird food / Attractant, Bee food, Riparian plantings, Pioneer Plantings & Flowers.
How to grow:
Easily grown from fresh seed, semi hardwood cuttings & layering.
** Seed germinates without pre treatment. Sow seeds direct & keep moist until germination is complete.