Boxleaf Hebe
Hebe buxifolia is a NZ native shrub with glossy leaves that are green with yellow edges. These are adorned by masses of fragrant and showy, white flowers from spring through autumn as it grows to 1 m tall and 1.2 m wide. Hebe buxifolia is a great plant for borders, adding to mixed plantings, planting around the base of a tree, including in a rock garden, or planting anywhere its beauty and fragrance can be enjoyed.
Suited to regions: | All regions |
Plant type: | Shrubs |
Height: | 1.00 m |
Spread: | 1.20 m |
Flowering time: | Spring, Summer, Autumn |
Tolerances: | Coastal, Hardy, Wind |
Garden uses: | Banks, Borders, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Ponds, Pool areas |
Garden styles: | Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Native |
Easy to grow? | Yes |
Maintenance requirements | Low |
Growth rate | Medium |
Also known as | Boxleaf Hebe |
Hebe buxifolia is a much-loved shrub in NZ gardens. It is most commonly included in a mixed planting, used in borders, maintained in a container, planted around outdoor living areas, mass planted on a bank, or grown as a hedge. It is a great complement to a modern and native garden where it brings colour, texture, and elegance to a space. This NZ native is a hardy plant and is popular with landscape designers.
Growing a Hebe buxifolia hedge starts with getting the correct plant spacing. The ideal spacing is 40 cm apart for a formal hedge (i.e., one that is trimmed) and 80 cm apart for an informal hedge. The hedge is generally grown to 75 cm tall and lightly trimmed after flowering. Some flowers may be lost during trimming but this is critical for avoiding a large and woody hedge in the future. Conversely, it also makes for a wonderful informal hedge, that is, left untrimmed.
The most important part of caring for Hebe buxifolia is to make sure they have a well-drained soil that does not become waterlogged at any time. This, along with over-watering, are the main causes of plants to fail to perform or die. The plants can be lightly trimmed any time but this is best undertaken in summer. The final elements are to feed the plants in spring with a general fertiliser and keep an eye on watering so they do not dry out. Keep an eye out for scale insect and mealy bugs and treat with an appropriate agrichemical if necessary.
The Plant Company has the best Hebe buxifolia for sale in NZ. We have nurseries that specialise in growing these amazing plants and our logistics team pack them carefully for our customers. The pricing is competitive and the quality is exceptional. Let us look after your Hebe needs and impress you with both our products and service!
Hebe buxifolia typically grows to a height of about 1 m and will spread 1.2 m wide. This size is a guide only as they will grow taller in partial shade. Conversely, they will grow shorter in exposed positions. Ultimately, they perform best when planted in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained site. It will not grow well in heavy shade but tolerates coastal conditions, dry periods, moderate frost, and heavy soils.
Hebe buxifolia thrives when planted in full sun or partial shade, such as under a deciduous tree. Avoid heavy shade sites as these can lead to the plants becoming “leggy” and few flowers being produced. To grow well, this Hebe requires a well-drained soil. On poor draining soils or with constant over-watering, the plants will become sickly and may eventually die due to root rot. Even on low fertile soils it will still grow well. Hebe buxifolia grows to about 60 cm tall and 1 m wide, so choose a location with enough space for it to grow without crowding other plants. The Plant Company generally recommends planting this variety in a border to create a colourful edge. We also make use of the hardiness and drought tolerance of this plant and will mass plant it on a bank to both provide great aesthetics and help stabilise the soil. Hebe buxifolia can also be trimmed into a hedge and in such instances, it should be spaced 30-50 cm apart. As you can probably appreciate, this is a versatile and forgiving Hebe that is well-suited to many locations and environments.
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