Hebes and Parahebes

Native to New Zealand, hebes are becoming more widely used in mixed and shrub borders and rock gardens, for landscape work, and even as house or conservatory plants. There are differing classifications for the genus and some botanists include Hebe, together with the related Australasian genera Chionohebe, Derwentia, Detzneria, Parahebe, Heliohebe and Leonohebe, in the larger genus Veronica (hence its common name 'Shrubby veronica'). Hebes are grown in many gardens and public areas as they attract butterflies. Hebes cope with most soil types, and can be propagated easily from both seed and cuttings.