Common Name: hebe
Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Plantaginaceae
Zone: 7 to 10
Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to September
Bloom Description: Purple-blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Hedge
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer
Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 8-10. Plants will tolerate temperatures that occasionally dip to 15-20°F in winter. Best in full sun to part shade in moist well-drained loams. Root mulch helps retain even soil moisture.
'Caledonia' offers increased winter hardiness compared to other hebe cultivars. Hardy from Zones 7-10. Siting in a protected location is still recommended in Zone 7 gardens.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Hebe (formerly included in the genus Veronica) is a genus containing more than 100 species and subspecies of medium to dwarf broadleaf evergreen shrubs which are native to New Zealand and generally noted for featuring outstanding foliage and showy flowers. A large number of hybrid plants have been produced over the years. In the U.S., hebes are primarily grown in the warm winter regions of California and along the coast in the Pacific Northwest.
Genus name honors the goddess of youth and cup-bearer to the gods.
'Caledonia' is a dwarf, hybrid selection of hebe that features purple-blue flowers, glossy foliage, and dark red stems. The new foliage emerges burgundy red before maturing to dark green. The small, purple-blue flowers are held in spike-like clusters on branched, terminal inflorescences from early summer to fall. The flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other insect pollinators. Mature plants will reach up to 2' tall and spread to fill a similar area.
Problems
Watch for aphids and caterpillars. Downy mildew and various leaf spot diseases are also potential problems. Deer tend to avoid this plant.
Uses
Shrub border. Hedge. Specimen or small groups.