Versatile Veronicas Offer Choice Of Shape, Colour

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31771, 30 August 1968, Page 6

Versatile Veronicas Offer Choice Of Shape, Colour

Hebes have been so-called for a considerable time now, yet the old name of veronica is still widely used. The native plants, which belong to the snapdragon family, have been placed on their own and the genus divided into two, the Hebes and the parahebes. The genus Hebe comprises at least 100 species and cultivars, some confusion existing over the names of quite a number of them, primarily through hybridism occurring in the field. It is doubtful whether there is enough appreciation of this very diverse genus of plant, and it is only when close examination of nursery stock is made that their garden value is realised. It would not be difficult to devote an average planting area to a collection of hebes and thereby arrange a display of considerable merit Careful selection can provide not only colourful blooms of varying size and shape, which flower at different times of the year and which are relatively long lasting in their display, but also a variety of plant shapes and sizes from prostrate forms to almost tree-like species. They are suitable, some more so than others, for concoastal planting, in sun or shade, as ground covers for rock and scree gardens, as windbreaks or low hedges, in groups or as specimens, perhaps as tub plants, for use in industrial areas or in the border with other plants. They are one of the least fastidious of all plants in their requirements, being tolerant to either acid or alkaline soils, and will grow even In wet situations although good drainage is preferable. Unevenly endowed soils will be more conducive to slow growth, thus helping to maintain better shape and compactness. In any case once they have become well established, after their second

year, annual pruning will assist in this direction. Flowering specimens should be attended to as they fade. The others can be trimmed at the end of the growing season.

One of the most widely grown whipcord hebes is Hebe armstrongii. It forms a rounded fairly compact bush between 2ft and 3ft high. During the winter the tightly interlaced leaves assume a bronzy hue but turn green as summer approaches. Hebe chistianensis may attain a similar height to Hebe armstrongii. It forms a denser, more rounded bush with more open leaves. It has a very fresh green appearance and is certainly one hebe which deserves far greater popularity than it is at present accorded. Hebe anomala is a very neat-growing plant which resembles an inverted cone. The best form is the red stemmed one which grows 3ft tall. The leaves are dark green and small, while the flowers are large star-shaped white flushed pink. Hebe speciosa and its cultivars gives us a number of small to larger growing plants. Pink, violet, blue and magenta figure prominently in the attractive colour range of the large spikes of flowers carried by these plants. The foliage too is large and there is a cultivar “Tricolour" which has striking variegated leaves of cream and green, tinged pink to purple. This colouration becomes more prominent during winter. Hebe montana grows into a 2ft high compact though spreading plant It has attractive oblong shiny green foliage and bears a profusion of white flowers tn summer. Hebe elliptica may attain sft to 6ft in height and the name gives a clue to its habit of growth. The large leaves are elliptic in shape and are staged horizontally on very short stems up the branches.

The large flowers are usually lilac in colour and look very much like those of the daphne. Hebe hulkeana is known as the New Zealand lilac and never fails to draw attention when in flower during the spring months. It forms a rather loose plant about 3ft high. Leaves have serrated

y edges and the flowers are y lilac coloured. e Hebe blue gem forms a very bushy and decorative shrub s when in full bloom. It grows 1 about 3ft tall and bears most n attractive blue flowers. These e are but some of the range a from which choice can be t made available, selections 1 generally being quite wide.