Why won't this Hebe flower?

Discussion in 'Gardening Discussions' started by Grass Cutter, Mar 8, 2025.

  1. Grass Cutter

    Grass Cutter Apprentice Gardener

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    20250308_152052.jpg Hi, I planted this Hebe about 8 years ago and in all that time it only produced 3 or 4 flowers one year. It gets full sun for about half the day, it is planted in poor, well drained, slightly acid soil and I have tried feeding it with tomato food thinking the extra potassium might help it to flower. I'm thinking of getting rid of it this year and planting lavender there instead. Am I doing anything wrong or are some shrubs poor at flowering no matter how they are looked after?
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2025
  2. JennyJB

    JennyJB Head Gardener

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    It might be one of the kinds that's grown more for the foliage.
     
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    • Grass Cutter

      Grass Cutter Apprentice Gardener

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      I bought it online and the picture showed one smothered with flowers.
       
    • Spruce

      Spruce Glad to be back .....

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      That’s a foliage hebe , I think it has tiny white flowers but it’s leaves are the main interest
       
    • Grass Cutter

      Grass Cutter Apprentice Gardener

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      Thanks, disappointing though because I think I bought it from an Amazon seller and the picture showed it smothered with flowers, I think they even called it 'snowball' if I recall correctly. Oh well, it looks like I'm going to ditch it as I only plant things that are good for bees and butterflies. What variety of Hebe would be good for flowers? Looking for a hardy small leaved variety with white flowers.
       
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      • Grass Cutter

        Grass Cutter Apprentice Gardener

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        I've just checked my Amazon orders and it was listed as Hebe Sub Alpina
         
      • Spruce

        Spruce Glad to be back .....

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        Hi

        my friend in my close has them in her front garden , and the bees do love the flowers. So worth keeping .. plus it creates a dense green mound which mustbe good for other wildlife
         
      • Grass Cutter

        Grass Cutter Apprentice Gardener

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        I've never seen a bee on it. I do wonder if it's a different variety from the one described? SubAlpina suggests it shouldn't grow very large, but I had to cut it back hard a couple of years ago because it was getting too big.
         
        Last edited: Mar 8, 2025
      • Spruce

        Spruce Glad to be back .....

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        My friends is roughly 60cm , up to you if you want to keep or not …
         
      • Grass Cutter

        Grass Cutter Apprentice Gardener

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        I might try moving it to a part of the garden that gets sun all day.
         
      • Grass Cutter

        Grass Cutter Apprentice Gardener

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        OK, I've moved it to a spot that gets full sun most of the day. I'll probably give it another couple of years, if it still won't flower it's headed for the green bin :wallbanging: 20250309_112837.jpg
         
      • The Eden

        The Eden Gardener

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        As others have said, they don't flower much. A very short window of flowering. Grown mainly for its foliage. The larger leaf ones tend to flower a bit longer but again, they don't flower for long.
         
      • Butterfly6

        Butterfly6 Super Gardener

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        Hebe subalpina is another name for Hebe rakaiensis which is a poor/erratic flowerer. It’s usually used for the foliage and because it naturally forms a relatively neat domed shape without any clipping. I’m not familiar with Snowball but knowing the basic rakaiensis as well as I do, I would be unsure how well any cultivars would flower

        So it’s not you, it’s the shrub and poor product description by yet another Amazon seller
         
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        • Grass Cutter

          Grass Cutter Apprentice Gardener

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          OK thanks, I've moved it to a sunnier position and fed it with high potash tomato feed. I've give it another couple of years if it still doesn't flower it's headed for the green bin
           
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