Re. Hebes
- To: medit-plants
- Subject: Re. Hebes
- From: G* B*
- Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 08:07:02 +0200
Hi All
This is a line I do commercially here in the Cape. There's definitely a wide
range with differing watering requirements - all require additional summer
water, some more than others.
The problem with recommending varieties is that the names don't seem to have
moved with the mother stock around the world too succesfully. Plants I've
seen in English books, for instance, don't look too much like what I have
with the same label here.
In general stay away from the more oval, fleshy leaved, varieties. I think
many of them are derived from H. speciosa or its hybrids. Names like 'Blue
Gem', ' Pink Pearl' & 'Simon de Leaux ' come to mind. The hardier ones for
me here have the small, scale like, leaves. Hebe diosmifolia is mildly
drought hardy & theres a couple of smaller bushes by the names of 'Rosie' &
'Summertime Beauty'
which are quite good as well. Probably the toughest is H.'Great Orme'. Gets
up to 2m with pink Autumn flowers & once established could get by on a
biweekly dripline soaking.
Note - they survive on minimal watering, but get woody & don't thrive.
Theres only a limited range available here so theres probably a lot more out
there which are more suitable. Hebe pinquifolia comes to mind, though it
doesn't flower so well for me. I've not tried any of the whipcord hebes such
as H. cuppressoides. Some of those are very tough & attractive little
foliage plants. If you could find some they'd probably the drought hardiest
of the lot.
Regards
Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph/Fax SA 021 7904253 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
