Re: Hebes

Since I was thinking of it, I did realize one thing. Despite all the blooms, I don't believe I've ever seen a bee or hummingbird at the flowers. It could be because it's a cool season bloomer they're mainly inactive when it flowers but the hummers have still been zipping around here. They are all over the salvia greggi that is in full bloom right now but ignore the pink hebe right next to it. It has racemes of tubular flowers, not unlike lilac or butterfly bush, so I'm a little surprised. The flowers are scentless and I don't know that I've ever seen birds eating the fruit/seeds.
 
Since it is a hybrid, it could be this particular shrub just isn't their thing. I like to plant things that support wildlife, so I guess that is a drawback, if it has one.
 
CK
 
Thanks for the feedback Cyndi.  One more question--are the leaves very small or larger?

Thanks,
Melissa
 
 
I'm in Hollister, the very northern tip of the California Central Valley. We're east of a gap in the foothills, so it usually cools to decent in the evening and nights though we can have very hot, dry days in summer. Winter low is normally (if there is such a thing anymore) 20' F. Heavy clay soil.
 
We have an unnamed pink hebe hybrid that went in a terrible spot - wet and shaded all winter, full sun and dry during the summer. It's four years old now and a real jewel. Blooms through autumn and a lot of the winter and never has needed, well, anything. It's about 3' tall now and the inner branches are looking a little nude, if you part the branches and peer into the shrub. A little judious pinching come spring should help that. I have never even fertilized it.
 
That's my only experience with it but it makes me want to add more. I understand they are relatively short-lived as shrubs go, so maybe this one is halfway through its lifespan. Still worth it, I think.
 
Cyndi K
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