Hebe Help Needed

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by luciusmaximus, Mar 15, 2025 at 7:37 PM.

  1. luciusmaximus

    luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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    This is the Hebe that came with the garden. I don't recall it being here when I viewed the house in May 2024. As you can see it's not looking too healthy. I have already tried to help it by removing some of the old compost ( couldn't get it all out ) and replacing with soil / new compost mix. It hasn't really achieved much. Any suggestions, please ?

    20250315_170418.jpg 20250315_170437.jpg
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    So what is wrong with it, it looks OK to me.
     
  3. luciusmaximus

    luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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    The leaves are brown around the edges, getting worse, and it's only got 2 flowers and 3 others still forming. It did have 2 flowers when I moved in, not the same ones as pictured. I had a Hebe on Anglesey and it didn't have brown leaves. I've been keeping an eye on it's hydration. It was very dry when I removed the old compost, which was so old it crumbled to dust.
     
  4. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Well I think you need to wait until the new growing season starts.
    Its just gone through winter, I'd say you are fairly lucky that it has a couple of flowers still on it at this time of year.
     
  5. CostasK

    CostasK Gardener

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    Hebes flower properly from late Summer to Autumn, so having a couple of flowers now is just a little unexpected gift.

    Regarding the edges of the leaves, it might be down to watering or a bit of frost damage.

    How big is its pot?

    This looks looks very similar to a Hebe Andersonii that I have. Mine was getting pot bound and I moved it to a bigger pot a few months ago. It's loving life now, and I don't need to water as frequently as before.
     
  6. JennyJB

    JennyJB Head Gardener

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    I've found that the hebes with the yellow variegation seem to be less hardy than some. I wouldn't really be expecting it to be in flower in March in any case (unless you're in a warmer part of the world? Your profile says Anglesey?)
     
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    • luciusmaximus

      luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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      I wasn't sure if it's a spring or summer flowering variety. Or how old it is ( think they are relatively short lived ). I'll be patient then :biggrin:
       
      Last edited: Mar 15, 2025 at 9:07 PM
    • luciusmaximus

      luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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      It looks similar to the Hebes I've seen on Anglesey that flower in Spring. They are everywhere and very pretty. I did wonder about possible frost damage, but don't know what weather was like before January. No hard frosts since then, but a couple of big storms.

      As far as I know house was empty for several months before I moved in and as grass was very long I'm assuming no maintenance done on garden.It was very dry when I removed old compost. It's in a wooden planter about 3ft tall, feels like bottom half filled with stones ( ballast ).
       
      Last edited: Mar 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      I dont think they are particularly short lived, did you remove a lot of the soil around the roots as I dont think it would like too much root disturbance.
      I think they dont like hard pruning in general so maybe avoid doing anything other than removing damaged shoots if they start to look bad.

      Yes just give it some time.
       
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      • Busy-Lizzie

        Busy-Lizzie Total Gardener

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        It looks very good to me, having just come through winter. Mine is tattier.
         
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        • luciusmaximus

          luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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          There are spring flowering Hebes on Anglesey. It's quite a mild climate and most winters don't get really cold. Snow is rare and frosts are usually in April ( it varies of course, just an average ). I need to update profile as now in Northern Ireland.
           
        • luciusmaximus

          luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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          Watched YouTube video saying 10 year lifespan ?. I couldn't get right down to the roots due to confined working space, just took out what I could reach.
           
        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          Life span of plants is very variable I dont really see how anyone can make a definite statement.
          They are like people in that respect.:biggrin:

          you can take cuttings which root fairly easily but better to wait until summer.
           
        • Spruce

          Spruce Glad to be back .....

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          Hi

          considering it’s March and it’s come out the winter looking great the variegated hebe is more tender and constant minus 5 would either kill it or struggling to grow that year

          give a feed end of march will cheer it up , then are shallow rooting so don’t go crazy removing to much compost

          Spruce
           
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