Hebe pinguifolia 'SUTHERLANDII'

Pinguifolia hebe is probably one of the hardiest hebes of our climate (zone 6). It bears small, blue-green leaves and makes a mounding shrub, useful as a ground cover or a beautiful feature of a heather border. In early summer and often in early autumn it is covered with profusion of tiny white flowers on purple-brown stalks.

Sutherlandii is a compact variety that needs no or little pruning. However, if you find your shrub damaged by a load of heavy and wet snow or by a cat or dog just clip it along all sides to encourage new growths from the middle. Pruning should be carried out in early spring.

Hebes need very well-drained but constantly moist, poor or medium fertile soil that is anything from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. It needs good mulching at all times. They originate in New Zealand i.e. a country with high air humidity and mild winters so for our climate we only choose the hardies species and varieties which are mostly dwarf and have small leaves. They are hardy on sites sheltered from strong, drying winds and hidden from direct winter sunlight to about -23°C (USDA zone 6). You can protect them with fir branches or white woven in colder regions. Adult hebes usually regenerate readily after harsh winter damage if they are well-established. They can be grown with no protection in USDA zones 7 and up. This variety, however, does not need protection - it withstood temperature -25°C.

Last update 03-01-2011; 28-02-2017