Hebe rakaiensis

Rakai Hebe

Hebes are popular garden shrubs and are found in most temperate climates. They are as evergreen with decorative (sometimes variegated) leaves. The flowers, in shades of blue, purple, pink or white, appear throughout summer and autumn. They are tough and able to withstand salt-laden winds makes them especially suited to coastal areas. However, they will not thrive in regions subject to prolonged freezing temperatures. This is a dwarf species which bears masses of large, white flower spikes in mid-summer.

plant Features

Full sun
Very little water
Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)
Light and free draining

plant information

Common name

Rakai Hebe

Latin name

Hebe rakaiensis

type

Evergreen Shrub

family

Plantaginaceae

ph

5.0 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral

Light

Full sun
Frost

Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)

Soil

Light and free draining
Water

Very little water

Plant & bloom calendar

Best time to plant

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Rakai Hebe is 0.50meters x 0.60meters

0.50 M 0.60 M

Hebe rakaiensis

Planting young plants

From Mid Autumn TO Mid Spring

Plant Hebes in autumn or in spring. They thrive in most well drained garden soils including chalk, and in full sun. The tender species require wall protection in inland gardens.

Propagation by cuttings

From Mid Summer TO Late Summer

Take cuttings 2-4 inches of non-flowering growths during summer; insert the cuttings in equal parts of peat and sand and place in a cold frame. Varieties of H. speciosa are best rooted in a greenhouse which can be kept frost free. The following spring, pot on the rooted cuttings into 3 inch pots of John Innes No 1. Plunge the pots outdoors and transplant the hardy species and varieties into their growing positions in late summer. Tender varieties should be potted on and overwintered in a cold frame.

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