Even though this pretty plant is often offered as hardy, you shouldn't rely on it. There are no truly winter-hardy varieties. It is better to overwinter the Hebe, also known as shrub veronica, which is only partially hardy, frost-free indoors. It can only survive the winter in the garden with good winter protection.
Are Hebe plants hardy?
Although some Hebe varieties such as Hebe addenda or Hebe armstrongii are touted as hardy, there are no truly hardy varieties. Small-leaved Hebe varieties tolerate sub-zero temperatures better than large-leaved ones and can overwinter in the garden with good winter protection, but not at temperatures colder than -5°C.
What temperatures does Hebe survive in winter?
Hebe is available in many varieties in stores. These include supposedly winter-hardy varieties such as Hebe addenda or Hebe armstrongii. However, the statement that these shrub veronicas can survive a cold winter outdoors is misleading.
The small-leaved varieties tolerate sub-zero temperatures better than the large-leafed varieties. But it shouldn't be colder than minus five degrees at the location - and only for a short time.
Basically, you can overwinter varieties with small leaves in the garden with good winter protection. Large-leaved varieties, on the other hand, should be grown in a bucket right from the start so that you can overwinter the plant frost-free.
Overwinter cool but frost-free
Hebe can be grown as an ornamental plant in the house all year round or cultivated in a pot on the terrace. Shrub veronicas that are designated as conditionally hardy varieties can also be planted outdoors if you provide winter protection in the winter.
Hebe grown in a bucket or pot needs a cool but frost-free place in winter. This also applies to varieties that you keep in the flower window.
In winter, place the pots in a place where temperatures are ideally five to ten degrees. The location must be bright, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow. Suitable places are:
- Corridor area
- Attic
- unheated winter garden
- cool greenhouse
After overwintering, slowly get used to the warmth
As temperatures rise in the spring, begin to slowly acclimate the Hebe to warmer temperatures.
You shouldn't bring the ornamental plant into the warm living room straight away, but instead keep it a little warmer for a few hours.
Hebe in the bucket can be taken outside on frost-free days. You should only come back into the house if it freezes at night.
How to overwinter shrub veronica in the garden
If you have planted hardy varieties outdoors, there are two ways to overwinter them. You can dig them up in the fall and put them in a container. This is then overwintered in a frost-free place.
If it is not possible to bring shrub veronica indoors in winter, spread a layer of mulch around the plant. Leaves or grass clippings are suitable for this.
Cover the plant itself with brushwood or, even better, pine branches. Fir branches have the advantage that the needles fall off in spring, allowing light to reach the tree.
Tip
The ornamental plant from New Zealand needs a very bright but not too sunny location. The flowering period depends on the respective variety and can last from May to July. Late varieties bloom from August to October.
