Hebe: the best varieties for pots
Our selection to brighten up your balcony or terrace
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Hebe or shrubby veronicas are among those beautiful bushes that shine in all seasons and boast numerous qualities: a spring or summer flowering with spectacular colourful spikes held above a very dense evergreen foliage. The genus Hebe includes around a hundred species of exclusively bushy veronicas, including the large-leaved Hebe and the smaller-leaved Hebe, which are more compact and feature a more discreet flowering, but sometimes very colourful foliage. All can be planted in pots. However, some will be more suitable due to their moderate growth. There are many dwarf varieties of Hebe that are perfectly suited for pot cultivation in small spaces, on the terrace or balcony. And as they are moderately hardy plants, pot cultivation is an excellent solution in the colder regions to allow for winter storage.
Discover the varieties of shrubby veronica we have selected for pot planting.
And to succeed in growing Hebe, check out our article “Shrubby veronica: planting, pruning, and care”.
Hebe 'Midnight Sky'®
The Hebe ‘Midnight Sky’® is a small variety particularly suited for pot cultivation, reaching no more than 1 m in height and 65 cm in spread. Evergreen throughout the year, it showcases a stunning dress with changing hues throughout the seasons. It is distinguished by its winter foliage, which is dark and glossy. Fresh green at the bud burst period, its leaves then turn into a bright green all summer, before becoming almost black at the first signs of cold. When in June-July, a multitude of small mauve-violet flowers adorn the foliage, it creates a bush with striking contrasts. This beautiful evergreen cushion is relatively hardy (down to -10°C), which means that in less clement regions, it should be kept in a bright, unheated space during winter to protect it. Find equally dark companions to highlight it, such as a Sedum ‘Black Knight’, for example.
Hebe ‘Green Globe’
The ‘Green Globe’ hebe (syn. ‘Emerald Green’) is another variety with a dense and compact habit, measuring 30 to 40 cm in all directions. It is distinguished by its round, bushy form and excellent pot retention. Spectacular with its santolina or dwarf conifer appearance, it will flood your containers with its fine, scale-like leaves in a soft yellow-green, arranged on the branches so densely and regularly that it can even be used in topiary to replace boxwood. Rather frost-sensitive (Zone 9a, or -6.7°C to -3.9°C), it needs protection during freezing periods in colder regions. It forms a beautiful graphic ball that maintains a neat appearance all year round: ideal for structuring a terrace in non-scorching sunlight. To accompany its discreet white flowering in summer and its golden foliage, consider the Santolina ‘Lemon Fizz’, which is also very ornamental in large containers.
Hebe 'Raspberry Ripple'
Another of the most attractive varieties, this recent Irish introduction comes alive with raspberry pink flower spikes in summer, from June to September. The flowering of Hebe ‘Raspberry Ripple’, with its very intense hue, is remarkably enhanced by glossy dark green foliage that it will retain all year round. It forms a small round clump measuring about 50 cm in all directions. This shrubby veronica displays commendable hardiness (down to -12°C), making it an excellent plant for the terrace in cooler climates. Plant it in a large pot or container, alongside other pot-friendly plants like the lovely Calluna vulgaris ‘Marlies’, which boasts ruby red flowering from August to September.
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6 White Flowering HebeHebe ‘Wiri Charm’
A little taller than the previous ones, Hebe ‘Wiri Charm’ is also interesting for pot planting. It has a regular habit, forming a rounded bush of 80 cm in all directions. Its very neat appearance and spherical silhouette make it a great choice for a terrace or balcony. Dressed in dark grey-green evergreen foliage that sometimes reddens in autumn, it looks beautiful all year round and maintains its charm in winter. In summer, from June to July, it transforms into a bright, colourful ball with its large spikes of blue-mauve flowers. Although not very hardy (-7/-8°C for short periods), it is quite resistant to the onslaught of fungal diseases in humid climates. Pair it with other flowering bushes that will thrive in pots on the balcony or terrace. It can be combined with evergreen Ceanothus such as Ceanothus ‘Blue Diamond®’, covered in lavender-blue flowers, blooming just a little before or with creeping rosemaries, for example.
Hebe 'Autumn Glory'
Hebe ‘Autumn Glory’ stands out for its exceptionally long and late flowering for the genus. This small, remarkably floriferous bush, though moderately hardy, comes to life around June and continues until late autumn, sometimes even until December, with an intense and bright violet-blue flowering. It literally disappears for months under a cascade of small coloured spikes. The foliage is another asset of this variety. Its narrow leaves display a lovely glossy dark green colour and are edged in purple. This makes the bush even more ornamental. With a compact, slightly spreading habit, about 65 cm in height and 80 cm in spread, it is decorative all year round and perfect in pots. Moderately hardy (down to -7°C), it will need protection from the harshness of winter. A Blue Note Sage with its intense royal blue colour will echo its flowering, while a Salvia (x) jamensis ‘Reve Rouge’ will provide a fantastic colour contrast right up to the gates of winter!
Hebe 'Purple Shamrock'
A true gem for the terrace! Here is a modest-sized variety of shrubby veronica that is truly unique, maintaining a superb variegated foliage throughout the year, evolving with the seasons and temperatures. The Hebe ‘Purple Shamrock’ is a recent hybrid variety that is nonetheless very convincing. It features small narrow leaves of about 5 cm, in an olive green subtly marginate with cream to yellow. The icing on the bush: its young shoots emerge in intense purplish pink, while the flower spikes reveal, from May to September, a pink dress, creating a harmonious, original, and vibrant tableau. This is a hebe of beautiful elegance and great finesse. It forms a wonderful small regular and rounded bush, about 60 cm in all directions. It can be paired with butterfly trees suitable for small spaces or romantic terraces that bloom at the same time, like the Buddleia ‘Lo & Behold® Pink Micro Chip’, whose orchid pink flowering is a delight.
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