CORVALLIS, Ore. — If you want to prolong color in your landscape from summer into fall, consider planting evergreen shrubs called Hebes for vivid flowers and striking foliage.
“Most Hebes flower in the summer, but others bloom in late fall,” said Neil Bell, horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. “Some have colorful foliage that lasts through autumn. They provide an interesting change from the usual asters and maples we customarily rely on for autumn interest.”
“The plants may have acquired a reputation for lack of hardiness because some of the most popular cultivars introduced here are not hardy in very cold winters. However, many Hebes do well in the Pacific Northwest if grown in a sheltered spot.”
Native to New Zealand, Hebe (pronounced HEE-bee) includes hundreds of cultivars, though relatively few are familiar to American gardeners.
“The plants may have acquired a reputation for lack of hardiness because some of the most popular cultivars introduced here are not hardy in very cold winters,” Bell said. “However, many Hebes do well in the Pacific Northwest if grown in a sheltered spot.”
Large-leaved Hebes are more sensitive to cold and may be injured below 25 degrees, while small-leaved types tend to be hardier. Bell suggests placing large-leaved cultivars in sheltered sites or growing them in containers that can be moved under cover during hard freezes.
For showy fall flowers, Bell recommends:
- ‘Amy’
- ‘Alicia Amherst’
- ‘Purple Picture’ (blooms in June and again in October–November)
- ‘Hobby’ (red flowers lasting into November or December during mild years)
- ‘Bowles Hybrid’ (lavender summer blooms and additional fall flowers; hardier than most)
“Except for ‘Bowles Hybrid,’ which is hardier, all these hybrids are susceptible to cold,” Bell said. “Plant them against a sheltered wall or between other shrubs, and be prepared to give them cover if temperatures drop suddenly.”
Colorful small-leaved cultivars
Several hardy, small-leaved cultivars suitable for Western Oregon offer unusual foliage:
- ‘Quicksilver’ — small silvery leaves
- ‘Boughton Dome’ — grayish foliage
- ‘James Stirling’ — ochre leaves with a conifer-like appearance
Some cultivars change color seasonally, taking on purplish or reddish tones in winter. Well-known examples include:
- ‘Caledonia’ — turns purple
- ‘Sapphire’ — bright red shoot tips in winter
Variegated options
Variegated cultivars are visually striking but tend to be large-leaved and therefore less cold-hardy. They include:
- Hebe speciosa ‘Variegata’
- ‘Tricolor’
- ‘Andersonii Variegata’
These require a protected location for winter survival.
Growing conditions
Hebes grow best with:
- At least partial sun
- Well-drained soil
- Summer irrigation
- Minimal pruning (a light annual shaping after bloom is sufficient)
Previously titled Evergreen Hebes perform colorfully in the garden
