Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Shrubby Veronica

Description:

A lovely evergreen upright shrub with burgundy stems, and dark green glossy leaves with gray-green undersides; lilac-purple flowers are impressive when massed; will tolerate some mild frost, shelter from cold winds

Ornamental Features

Coed Hebe has masses of beautiful spikes of lilac purple star-shaped flowers with purple overtones rising above the foliage from mid spring to mid fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its attractive glossy narrow leaves emerge light green in spring, turning dark green in colour with curious grayish green undersides the rest of the year. The burgundy stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Coed Hebe is an open multi-stemmed annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Coed Hebe is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Coed Hebe will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.

Coed Hebe is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.