How to grow hebes
All you need to know about growing bee-friendly hebes, in our detailed Grow Guide.
Hebes are popular evergreen shrubs, mostly native to New Zealand although some are indigenous to Australia and South America. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are suitable for growing in a wide range of sites and planting schemes. Hebes are excellent in shrub borders, used as ground cover or low-growing hedging, and are relatively low-maintenance.
Hebes flower over a long period – all year round in mild regions – with flower colours including pink, blue and white. They can be an important late-year source of nectar and pollen for bumblebees. Leaf colour varies too, from dark green to pink and variegated. Less-hardy hebes can be grown in cool glasshouses or alpine houses.
How to grow hebe plants
Most hebes thrive in moist but free-draining soil, in full sun to partial shade, ideally in a sheltered spot protected from winds. They don't need rich soils and will tolerate drought.
Deadhead spent blooms to improve the look of your hebe and keep it flowering for longer. Prune back in late summer to encourage strong new growth and a good overall shape.
Jump to Best hebes to grow
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Find out more about growing and caring for hebes below.
Where to grow hebes
Hebes are native to scrubland and, as such, are tough plants, however, they do need protection from cold winter winds. Some hebes are hardier than others – as a general rule, large-leaved varieties are more tender than small-leaved ones. They're tolerant of salt and can therefore be grown in coastal situations.
Choose a sheltered spot for your hebe, such as in front of a south- or west-facing wall. Hebes are tolerant of poor soils so will grow virtually anywhere. Larger cultivars can be grown at the back of a border while smaller varieties can be grown towards the front or in pots.
Hebes work well with a range of other plants, including catmint and Japanese anemones (pictured, above), along with cranesbill geraniums, penstemons and other herbaceous perennials.
How to plant hebes
Plant your hebe in late spring so it can establish during the summer months. Dig a planting hole slightly wider than the pot it's growing in. As hebes do best in poor soil, there's no need to add organic matter, so simply place the rootball in the hole, ensuring it's at the same depth it was growing in the pot.
Replace the soil around the rootball and firm around the plant gently. Water well. Repeat the process for planting in pots.
Pruning hebes
Hebes require very little care. Avoid feeding them as this can make them grow too quickly and develop floppy leaves.
Annual pruning will extend the life of your hebe. Cut back back dead flowers and up to a third of foliage in late summer, after flowering, to encourage strong new growth and a good bushy shape. Hard pruning (pictured, above) can rejuvenate an old hebe plant and give it an extra lease of life.
How to propagate hebes
Hebes can be short-lived, so take softwood cuttings in summer to replace dead plants. Simply remove the shoots of non-flowering stems, remove leaves from the lower portion of the stem and push into a pot of moist, gritty, peat-free compost.
Cover with a clear plastic bag or place in a propagator with a lid to maintain moisture. Remove the cover when the cuttings have started to show signs of growth. Pot up your cuttings the following spring.
Growing hebes: problem-solving
Hebes are generally trouble free, but some of the less-hardy varieties can suffer in exposed situations. Take care when choosing your hebe to make sure you can provide it with the conditions it needs; for example, there's no point buying a tender hebe if you intend to grow it in an exposed spot.
Advice for buying hebes
Here’s our guide to buying the right hebe for your garden, including where to buy hebes.- Hebes come in a range of sizes. Check that the height and spread of your hebe is suited to your requirements. If you're planting a hebe in a pot, buy a compact variety. It's also worth checking how hardy the hebe is – some hebes are more frost tender than others, so need extra care in winter
- Hebes are known for their beautiful flowers but some have variegated foliage, too. Make sure the colour of the foliage doesn't clash with any other colours in your planting scheme
- Check your hebe over before planting, making sure that it's not leggy, the foliage is healthy and there are no visible signs of pests, both on the leaves and in the rootball
Where to buy hebes online
Best hebes to grow
Browse our pick of the best hebes to grow:
Hebe 'Celebration'
A half-hardy hebe, Hebe 'Celebration' forms a tight mound of variegated foliage, from which clusters of purple-pink flowers appear in late spring.
Hebe 'Frozen Flame'
Hebe 'Frozen Flame' has greyish-green leaves with a white edge that turn a pinkish-purple in winter. In summer, blue flowers are borne in bright clusters.
Hebe 'Green Globe'
Hebe 'Green Globe' is a compact shrub with a round habit and small, closely packed branches.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove a large hebe?
Large, overgrown hebes can be rejuvenated by hard pruning but they don't always grow back, so you may need to dig them out instead. The easiest way to do this is to cut back all growth to around a metre so you can use the remaining stems as a lever to work the rootball free. Dig around the rootball to approximately the depth of your spade, and use loppers or a pruning saw to cut through tough roots as you find them. Then, holding onto the remaining top growth, gently rock the rootball back and forth to dislodge it. Cut any more roots that become exposed during this process. Eventually, the rootball should be free and you will be able to lift it out of the ground. Any remaining roots left in the soil can be gently worked out again, cutting any stubborn bits free as you need to.
Help! My hebe is turning brown
Hebes can become drought-stressed in dry summers, resulting in browning leaves or 'dead' patches. As soon as you notice browning hebes, give them a good drink of water. Continue to water them twice a week to reduce any stress and further browning. The brown patches can be cut out and new growth will eventually replace it. Or you can simply leave the brown areas and wait for new leaves to grow in the place of old, dead ones.
What's the best thing to do with a frost-damaged hebe?
Hebes are moderately hardy in the UK, but can become damaged by frost during particularly cold snaps. This frost damage looks unsightly but new growth should quickly follow, in spring. After any further risk of frost has passed, prune out damaged growth, cutting back to a sideshoot or bud. Top-dress with a good-quality mulch like leaf mould or homemade compost to encourage healthy growth. If conditions are dry, give the hebe a good drink of water once a week.
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