Hebe buxifolia - Strauchveronika

The Hebe buxifolia is a variety of Strauchveronika that forms a low, wide, persistent cushion, with a very ornamental pattern throughout the year. Its small, glossy leaves are arranged in a cross on the branches, creating a very recognisable and aesthetic silhouette. At the end of spring, the plant produces white flowers grouped in short spikes at the tips of the branches. One of the hardiest of all (down to -15°C), this Strauchveronika can be planted in a border, a rockery, a flower bed, or in a pot on a terrace in particularly harsh climates.

The Hebe, which traditionally belonged to the family of Scrophulariaceae, has curiously been reclassified by botanists since 2009 into the Plantaginaceae family, alongside Antirrhinum (Antirrinum) and Digitalis, which are also transplants... Plants of the genus Hebe were once part of the genus Veronica, the herbaceous Veronicas, before being separated to form a distinctly different group. There are about a hundred species of Hebe, most of which are native to New Zealand, while others come from Tasmania and southern Australia. The first Strauchveronika introduced to Europe, Hebe elliptica, was brought back by George Forster during an expedition with the famous Captain Cook. Most of the species currently cultivated on our continent were imported a century later.
The Hebe buxifolia, also known by the synonym Hebe odora, grows in both islands that make up New Zealand, at altitudes above 1200 m. This explains why it is one of the hardiest species, tolerating temperatures down to -15°C, or even lower in very good soil and exposure conditions. It is also the fastest-growing species with small leaves... in comparison to others, as Strauchveronikas are not speed champions. This low shrub forms a regular, wide cushion, generally reaching 50 cm in height and 70 cm in spread, but can grow up to 1 m and form a much wider mass when it is happy in its location. The dense and compact branches create a very lush vegetation, making it excellent for forming bushy borders. They are adorned with small elongated obovate leaves that taper to a point, measuring only 8 to 12 mm in length. These thin leaves are dark green with a shiny surface on top, while the underside displays a lighter green. Their main uniqueness, which contributes to the beauty of this shrub, is that they are arranged in four rows, giving the branches a very graphic cross-section.
In June and July, spikes of 1.5 to 2.5 cm long, composed of tiny flowers, appear at the tips of the numerous branches, measuring 6 to 8 mm in diameter. They are white, sometimes slightly tinged with lilac.

The Hebe buxifolia, literally "box-leaved" due to its distinctive and graphic foliage, may not be the most floriferous of species, but its good hardiness allows most gardens to welcome it in open ground. In climates that are still too cold, it can be grown in a pot, with occasional pruning if necessary. Thriving in sunny situations in most soils, it only fears stagnant water. Plant it in a flower bed alongside flowering plants, which will be enhanced by its dark foliage. The charming miniature rose 'Cutie Pie' will thus be magnified at its feet, with its white and pink flowering that renews throughout the summer on a dome of vegetation only about fifteen centimetres high. The Berberitze thunbergii 'Tiny Gold' is another dwarf shrub, 40 cm in all directions, whose yellow-tinted foliage will provide a superb colour contrast alongside your Hebe. In the background, you will enhance this contrast by installing a specimen of Cotinus coggygria 'Winecraft Black', a dark purple shrub, whose much larger rounded leaves compared to those of the Berberitze and Hebe will create a surprising effect. Its long-lasting, airy flowering and warm autumn colours will energise your scene.