Last Updated on April 15, 2024 by Real Men Sow
Hebe are evergreen shrubs that, depending on their variety, can reach heights of 20 cm (8 in) to 1.2 m (4 ft). Additionally, they have nearly the same spread. They are indigenous to New Zealand and the northern United States. The following checklist will assist you in deciding whether or not to grow hebe in your garden.
What Your Garden Should Have to Grow Hebe
They flourish in full sun year-round but can be cultivated in partial shade. If the plant receives very little light, it may not blossom. Both containers and soil can be used to cultivate plants. They flourish in moderately acidic to moderately alkaline soil. These conditions exist in the majority of British gardens. They are able to flourish in both light and heavy clay soils, but you cannot grow hebe in damp soil.
Only plants grown in open soil require irrigation. During the months of May through September, it is necessary to water containers more frequently. Hebes may do well even if they aren’t cared for because they don’t need much food and grow well with a little trimming.
Some flowers are lovely, some are variegated, and most are evergreen. Unless they have been entirely neglected, they are rarely harmed by pests and illnesses. The shorter types are more wind-resistant and can survive in regions with high salt tolerance.
How To Care For A Hebe
Hebes can be relatively low-maintenance shrubs, but they do require a bit of care to thrive optimally. This treatment plan will help them reach their goals.
Check for symptoms of frost damage on the plant in March. To re-establish a healthy bud, you must eliminate any damaged stems. This can be performed concurrently with annual tree pruning. If you have a flowering variety of hebe, you should remove any wilting blooms. This will lengthen the duration of flowering.
Hebes residing in open soil should not be provided with nitrogen-rich fertilisers since they are incapable of handling it. In April and July, they will continue to enjoy bone, blood, and fish. Hebes cultivated on open soil must be kept dry. You can water them if they require it, but not too frequently.
Pruning Hebes
Prevent taller varieties of hebes from sagging and crowding the centre. If you do not prune your hebes annually, the entire plant will eventually become naked at the base and lose all of its leaves at the top.
March is an ideal time to prune a hebe because new buds are showing. Do not prune old, dead trees. Always prune so that a minimum of two buds remain per stem.
It is simpler to maintain healthy plants of shorter varieties. It is necessary to remove the top 5cm/2 ins. For taller cultivars, prune the top 20 cm/8 in. Several stems may be cut back, but always leave two buds. This will allow the plant’s centre to expand and foster the development of new, robust growth.
Grow Hebe in Containers
If you grow hebe in containers, you should water them regularly so that they are kept moist, but not dry. Hebes in containers can use rainwater from the waterbutt.
From April through September, give the plants a feed every two months. Add a little bit of fish or blood to the compost. Winter: Place the plants in a protected area, away from the wind, and with some frost protection. You can grow hebe in many varieties in containers, as they produce beautiful flowers and interesting foliage.
Pests And Diseases
Leaf Spot
Also called Septoria Leaf Spot. It results in little brown patches on the leaves. Although there is no immediate consequence, if left untreated, the illness can cause the plant to lose vigour and become lanky.
This fungus is most noticeable in October and February. Older leaves afflicted by this fungus are lost as new leaves form. In certain years, symptoms may manifest as early as June.
The most effective way to treat the condition is to apply a broad-spectrum fungicide in September, or as soon as the symptoms appear if they appear sooner. Two or three applications per week are advised.
Downy Mildew
There are dark patches on the leaf surfaces, as well as light grey fungal growths on the undersides. The lower leaves of a plant are more sensitive than the upper leaves. This is due to the Peronospora grisea fungus. These conditions include insufficient air circulation, cold soil, and moisture. These circumstances can only be avoided. Your plant may need to be replanted in a sunnier location. If you neglect your hebe, it will eventually perish.
Root Rot
These symptoms include browning and subsequent decomposition of entire stems. If you take the plant apart, you will discover decaying roots. Complete cessation of growth will occur. Inadequate drainage, poor soil conditions, and cold are all key causes of sluggish development. Improving soil conditions is the sole solution to the problem. The best course of action for most affected plants is to remove and destroy them. Replace the diseased plant and replant it in a healthier location.
How To Propagate and Grow Hebe By Cuttings
Hebes propagate best from semi-mature cuttings. Between July and September is the optimal time for this. You should seek out stems that have grown this year and have a little woody base, while the top 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 inches) are green and pliable. The best stems are located at the plant’s apex, where they receive maximum sunlight. Avoid chopping flower stalks.
Just below the leaf node, remove a 10-cm (4-in) stem. Reduce the number of uppermost leaves to four or five. This is entirely optional. Place the cuttings in an 8-cm container containing multipurpose compost. You may place it deeper, but the leaves should not contact the compost.
Beginning at the pot’s base, water it. Then, affix a marker with the plant’s variety name and harvest date. Cover the container with a plastic bag that is kept away from the leaves. Should the cuttings be stored not in direct sunlight but in a cold environment? The cuttings must be removed from the bag after four weeks. They will have begun to root at that point. The cutting should be kept in the same container throughout the winter, in a frost-free environment such as a greenhouse or against the wall of a heated home.
By spring of next year, the plant must be repotted into a larger pot (15 cm/6 in). Blood, fish, and bones should be fed to the plant for several months, along with ample water. You can plant the hebe outside in its permanent spot or in a bigger pot.
