How to Grow Hebe
Hebe
Hebes are versatile evergreen shrubs that provide year-round structure and summer flowers. Choose small-leaved or whipcord types for the best cold hardiness in UK gardens. Plant in well-drained soil in a sheltered spot, and trim lightly after flowering to keep a compact shape. Large-leaved varieties may need protection from hard frost and cold winds.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Spring with a balanced fertiliser. Container plants: liquid feed monthly in summer.
Watch For
- Downy mildew
- Leaf spot
- Aphids
- Frost damage
Companions
Lavender, Grasses, Phormium
Track your Hebe care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun for best flowers; light shade tolerated
Full sun to light shade. Best flowering in full sun. Whipcord and small-leaved types tolerate more exposed positions than large-leaved varieties.
💧 Watering
Water to establish; fairly drought-tolerant once settled
Water regularly during the first year to establish. Once settled, hebes are fairly drought-tolerant. Container plants need regular watering through summer.
🌱 Fertilizing
Balanced spring feed; monthly liquid feed for containers
Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring. Container plants benefit from monthly liquid feeds during summer. Avoid overfeeding which produces soft, frost-prone growth.
✂️ Pruning
Light trim after flowering; harder prune in spring if leggy
Trim lightly after flowering to keep plants compact. Can take harder pruning in spring if leggy, but avoid cutting into bare old wood which may not regrow.
❄️ Overwintering
Protect tender types from frost; good drainage essential
Small-leaved and whipcord types are the hardiest. Protect large-leaved varieties from cold winds and hard frost with fleece or by planting against a warm wall. Good drainage is essential.
Growing Tips
Choose for hardiness
Small-leaved and whipcord hebes are the hardiest. Large-leaved types with showy flowers are less cold-tolerant and best in mild or coastal areas.
Light pruning after flowering
Trim lightly after flowers fade to keep plants compact. Hebes can take harder pruning in spring if they become leggy, but avoid cutting into bare wood.
Winter shelter
Protect tender varieties from cold winds and hard frost with fleece or by planting against a warm wall. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot in wet winters.
Pollinator value
Hebes are excellent for bees and butterflies, flowering from midsummer into autumn when other nectar sources are scarce.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Aphids
Identification: Clusters of green or black insects on shoot tips; curled and distorted young leaves; sticky honeydew
- Blast off with a strong jet of water
- Spray with dilute soft-soap solution
- Encourage ladybirds and hoverflies
- Contact pyrethrin spray on visible colonies
Pest Scale Insects
Identification: Small brown or white limpet-like bumps on stems; sticky honeydew and sooty mould on leaves
- Scrub off with a soft brush or cloth dipped in soapy water
- Encourage natural predators such as parasitic wasps
- Spray with plant oil winter wash while dormant
- Contact insecticide in early summer when crawlers are active
Disease Downy Mildew Peronospora grisea
Symptoms: Yellow patches on upper leaf surfaces with greyish-purple downy growth underneath; leaves may brown and drop
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected leaves; improve air circulation by thinning congested growth
Prevention: Avoid overhead watering; space plants for good airflow; ensure good drainage
Disease Leaf Spot
Symptoms: Brown or black spots on leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo; heavy infections cause premature leaf drop
Treatment: Remove and destroy badly affected leaves; improve air circulation
Prevention: Avoid overhead watering; clear fallen leaves; ensure good spacing
Disease Frost Damage
Symptoms: Blackened, wilted, or scorched shoot tips and leaves after cold spells; large-leaved types most vulnerable
Treatment: Leave damaged growth in place until spring, then cut back to healthy tissue
Prevention: Choose small-leaved whipcord types for exposed sites; plant large-leaved types in sheltered positions
Log Hebe in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
Start planning free