Re: Hebe identification
> Martha Mock wrote:
>
> I was given an unidentified Hebe that I am growing in a pot in
> Philadelphia. It corresponds to the description for Hebe 'Autumn
> Glory' in the Am. Hort. Soc, A-Z, but I am wondering if anyone can
> give me confirmation or suggest what else it might be. It is 19" tall
> (don't know how old it is), has wine red stems and a slightly
> branching habit. The elliptical leaves (to 2 inches) are dark green
> with a red margin and a red midvein that extends half way from the
> base. It started flowering in mid-August. The flowers are purple-blue
> (more blue than purple) with a white tube and are now growing from the
> top three axillary nodes to form a clusterlike shape. The whole
> inflorescence is about 1 1/2 inches long including the spent blooms
> and has a stubby top. New flowers are forming at the top while the
> lower ones continue to bloom so I guess it will continue to bloom for
> some time. I got this plant last fall and It overwintered in a cool
> room with a west-facing window and came through just fine.
Hi Martha
I looked up the description of 'Autumn Glory' in Cultivation of NZ Trees
and Shrubs (Metcalf) - Laurie Metcalf is our principal authority on
local plants and cultivars.
His description differs from yours in a couple of ways - the leaves are
described as grey-green to dark green above with no mention of a red
margin or midrib and the flowers are definitely violet to
amethyst-violet, rather than blue. In the pic. also the infloresences
appear to be tapering rather than stubby.
I know some of our native species do have coloured margins on the leaves
and I may be able to find a match. Unfortunately there is no key
provided to this large group, which is simply arranged in alphabetical
order, so I will try to read through when I can and see if I can come up
with a better match.
However, don't expect too much. My book is the '87 edition and there has
been a lot of new breeding of Hebes in the last few years.
>
> I am on this list, in case anyone was wondering, because I volunteer
> in the Mediterranean and Silver Gardens at Longwood Gardens and am
> eager to learn as much as I can about these plants. Philadelphia had
> its first mediterranean summer this year!
Climate changes sure seem to be the flavour of the times, don't they?
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata,
New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
