Hebe albicans

About Hebe albicans

A pretty flowering, dwarf evergreen shrub, Hebe albicans will delight your garden with clusters of white blooms in midsummer, from June to July. Even better, it is loved by bees and butterflies, so is a wonderful option if you are after a small pollinator friendly shrub.

Native to New Zealand, Hebe albicans is sometimes known as shrubby veronica. Compact and rounded and in shape, this small hardy shrub is incredibly versatile, is happy in many garden situations, and will reach its mature height of 0.5m within a few years.

The fine white flowers, arranged in dense racemes have a delightfully soft and airy form. Compactly arranged, the mass of flower spikes are balanced beautifully by the neat, glaucous and thick, grey-green leaves.

Plant Hebe albicans in autumn or spring, in any well-drained soil, choosing a site ideally in full sun, or partial shade. Hebe will grow on moist soils, even chalk, as long as it isn’t too wet or too dry. If possible keep your Hebe albicans sheltered from any cold winds.

It is a stunning ornamental plant, perfect in a border, a pot, or a rock garden and also works very well in coastal gardens, particularly west and south coastline locations in the UK. It is also tolerant of some pollution, so works well in city spaces.

Hebe albicans doesn’t mind too much if it’s moved about, so it’s also a good plant if you are likely to rearrange your garden.

Hebe can be toxic to horses.

Max Dimensions

Ultimate height 0.5m

Ultimate spread 1m

Growth Rate

Time to ultimate height 5 – 10 years

Light levels

Full sun, Partial shade

Growing conditions

Any moist, well-drained alkaline or neutral soil

Hardiness

RHS hardiness H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)

Uses

Flower borders and beds

Urban gardens, courtyards, patios and pots

Coastal gardens and gravel gardens

Naturalistic and informal planting

Rock garden