Hebe (genus)

Hebe
Hebe 'Waireka'
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Plantaginaceae
Genus:	Hebe
Species
See text

Hebe /ˈhiːbiː/ is a genus of plants native to New Zealand, Rapa in French Polynesia, the Falkland Islands, and South America. It includes about 90 species and is the largest plant genus in New Zealand. Apart from H. rapensis (endemic to Rapa), all species occur in New Zealand. This includes the two species, H. salicifolia and H. elliptica, that have distributions extending to South America. The genus is named after the Greek goddess of youth, Hebe. There are differing classifications for the genus and some botanists include Hebe, together with the related Australasian genera Chionohebe, Derwentia, Detzneria, Parahebe, Heliohebe and Leonohebe, in the larger genus Veronica (hence its common name 'Shrubby veronica').

Hebe has four perpendicular rows of leaves in opposite decussate pairs. The flowers are perfect, the corolla usually has four slightly unequal lobes, the flower has two stamens and a long style. Flowers are arranged in a spiked inflorescence. Identification of Hebe species is difficult, especially if they are not in flower. The plants range in size from dwarf shrubs to small trees up to 7 metres, and are distributed from coastal to alpine ecosystems. Large-leaved species are normally found on the coast, in lowland scrub and along forest margins. At higher altitudes smaller-leaved species grow, and in alpine areas there are whipcord species with leaves reduced to thick scales.

Hebes are grown in many gardens and public areas; they attract butterflies. Hebes cope with most soil types, and can be propagated easily from both seed and cuttings. Wild Hebe hybrids are uncommon; however, there are many cultivated hybrids, such as Hebe × franciscana.

The Hebe Society, formed in 1985 under the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society, promotes the cultivation and conservation of hebes and other New Zealand native plants.

Species

Hebe speciosa

About 90-100 species, including:

Hebe acutiflora Hebe albicans Hebe amplexicaulis Hebe armstrongii Hebe barkeri Hebe brachysiphon Hebe breviracemosa Hebe brevifolia Hebe buchananii Hebe canterburiensis     Hebe carnosula Hebe chathamica Hebe cheesmannii Hebe ciliolata Hebe colensoi Hebe cupressoides Hebe decumbens Hebe dieffenbachii Hebe diosmifolia

Hebe elliptica Hebe epacridea Hebe gibbsii Hebe glaucophylla Hebe gracillima Hebe haastii Hebe hectorii Hebe hulkeana Hebe lavaudiana Hebe leiophylla Hebe ligustrifolia Hebe lycopodioides     Hebe macrantha Hebe matthewsii Hebe obtusata Hebe ochracea Hebe odora Hebe parviflora Hebe pauciramosa Hebe pimeleoides

Hebe pinguifolia Hebe propinqua Hebe rakaiensis Hebe raoulii Hebe recurva Hebe salicifolia Hebe salicornioides Hebe speciosa Hebe stricta Hebe subalpina Hebe subsimilis Hebe tetragona Hebe tetrasticha Hebe topiaria Hebe traversii Hebe trisepala Hebe venustula Hebe vernicosa

Cultivation

Hebes are valued in gardens in temperate climates as evergreen shrubs with decorative (sometimes variegated) leaves. The flowers, in shades of blue, purple, pink or white, appear throughout summer and autumn. Their ability to withstand salt-laden winds makes them especially suited to coastal areas, for instance the South West of England, where they are often grown as hedges. However, they are mostly half-hardy, so will not thrive in regions subject to prolonged freezing temperatures. Most prostrate varieties are quite hardy, and can be used as groundcover. The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-

H. albicans' 'Blue Clouds' 'Emerald Gem' 'Great Orme' 'Margret' 'Midsummer beauty'       'Mrs Winder' 'Neil's Choice'

'Nicola's Blush' H. ochracea 'James Stirling' 'Oratia Beauty' 'Pascal' 'Pewter Dome' H. pimeloides 'Quicksilver'       H. pinguifolia 'Pagei' 'Pink Elephant' H. rakaiensis

H. recurva 'Boughton Silver' 'Red Edge' 'Sapphire' 'Silver Queen' H. topiaria H. vernicosa 'Wiri Dawn' 'Youngii'

References and external links

• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Hebe
• The Hebe Society

• 

  Hebe speciosa

• 

  Hebe pinguifolia

• 

  Hebe buchananii

• 

  Hebe decumbens

• 

  Flowers of Hebe × franciscana

• 

  Flowers of Hebe × franciscana

• 

  Hebe x franciscana (Blue Gem)

• 

  Hebe albicans

• 

  Hebe rakaiensis

• 

  Hebe stricta