Hebe Purple Shamrock Neprock

The 'Purple Shamrock' Hebe is a variety of hybrid Shrubby Veronica that offers evergreen variegated foliage that changes with the seasons and temperatures. Its long elliptical leaves with olive green centres are edged with yellow. The young shoots are intensely purple and very attractive above the foliage. In early summer pink blooms complete the picture. This wonderful little bush is relatively hardy and easy to grow in regions where winters are not too harsh. This variety naturally forms a beautiful, compact and dense evergreen cushion, ornamental all year round. The plant is disease resistant, undemanding about soil type, and drought resistant once well established in the garden. It is also an excellent plant for the terrace.

The 'Purple Shamrock' Hebe is a recent hybrid cultivar. It belongs to the family of Plantaginaceae and is similar to perennial veronicas. It forms a small, regular bush with a compact and rounded habit, reaching approximately 60 cm (24 in) in all directions. Its reddish stems lignify with age and bear thin, long, thick and leathery elliptical leaves. They have an olive green centre, edgeed with cream to yellow. The young shoots are a more or less intense purple-pink shade depending on the season. Flowering mainly occurs in May-June, sometimes with a second bloom in autumn. It takes the form of simple lateral inflorescences resembling thin, long spikes measuring 5 cm (2 in). They are composed of numerous small flowers: the flower buds, slightly tinged with white, reveal their intense pink colour when they open. Pruning after flowering is recommended to maintain a compact habit and a neat appearance to this shrubby veronica.

With relatively slow growth, and being relatively hardy (down to -15°C (5 °F) for 'Purple Shamrock'), Hebes are generally placed alongside perennial plants because their usage is closer to perennials than to shrubs. The 'Purple Shamrock' variety, on the other hand, naturally develops a compact and dense habit that is well suited for ornamenting terraces and balconies, mixed with heather or creeping rosemary, for example. In favourable climates it can create neat and elegant borders throughout the summer and be highly decorative in winter. In colder regions, Hebes should be grown in large pots on the terrace and stored in a bright, unheated area during winter.