small hebe

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

Looking for the perfect small hebe to add structure, year-round colour, and low-maintenance greenery to your garden? Hebes are iconic New Zealand natives loved for their hardy nature, lush foliage, and showy flower spikes. Small hebes are especially popular for compact spaces, borders, pots, and low hedges, offering vibrant foliage and blooms without overwhelming your garden design. Read on to discover the top varieties of small hebe, their many uses, and expert tips for growing them at home.

Hebe 'First Light'

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Hebe 'First Light' is a compact evergreen shrub valued for its colourful variegated foliage and vibrant flower spikes. The combination of green, cream, and pink tones creates year round interest in New Zealand gardens. Flowering through summer, it adds further colour and appeal. Hebe 'First Light' is ideal for borders, containers, and low maintenance landscapes.

Buy Hebe 'First Light'

From $21.53

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 50 cm

Spread: 90 cm

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wind

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Native, Rock

Hebe 'Wiri Mist'

Hebe 'Wiri Mist' is a compact evergreen shrub prized for its fine green foliage and masses of soft white flowers that appear from late spring through summer. It typically grows to 1 m tall and 1 m wide, making it ideal for borders, rock gardens or container planting. This hardy New Zealand-bred variety thrives in full sun or partial shade and tolerates coastal conditions, light frost and dry periods once established. 'Wiri Mist' adds texture and elegance to any garden setting.

Buy Hebe 'Wiri Mist'

From $20.18

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 60 cm

Spread: 1.00 m

Flowering time: Summer, Autumn

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wet, Wind

Garden uses: Borders, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native, Rock

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Hebe, Ligularia Pittosporum and Sophora, or related Categories - Perennials Evergreen Shrubs and Evergreen Trees.

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Why Choose a Small Hebe?

Small hebes are ideal for gardens where space is at a premium, but beauty is still a priority. They typically grow to around 30-60 centimetres tall and wide, making them suitable for urban gardens, patios, and even balcony planter boxes. Small hebes offer:

Evergreen foliage for year-round interest
Prolific, bee-friendly flowering in summer and autumn
Low-maintenance care and drought tolerance once established
Resistance to coastal winds and mild frost

Their tidy size makes them adaptable for planting as edging, in mixed borders, or as feature plants in pots.

Popular Small Hebe Varieties

New Zealand gardening enthusiasts have a wealth of choice when it comes to small hebe varieties. If you’re seeking vibrant colour, compact form, and reliable performance, these are some of the best options:

Hebe Caledonia: A compact variety with deep green leaves and rich purple-blue flower spikes through summer. Grows to just 40 cm, forming a neat mound ideal for edging paths or pots.
Hebe 'Lollipop': This dwarf hebe features glossy foliage and masses of soft lilac flowers. Its rounded shape and maximum height of 40 cm make it a favourite for modern garden designs.
Hebe 'Wiri Mist': A dense, bushy shrub with fine, misty foliage and small white flowers. It creates stunning low hedges or groundcover.
Hebe Wairua Beauty: Highly prized for its attractive blue flowers and fine foliage, this small hebe is perfect for coastal gardens and mass planting.
Hebe Sutherlandii: A compact, grey-foliaged variety with an architectural, mounded form. Its subtle purple blooms and silver leaves add texture and interest to rock gardens or pots.

Growing and Caring for Small Hebe

Plant your small hebe in a sunny to lightly shaded position with well-drained soil. Hebes thrive on neglect, but will reward you with more blooms and denser growth if you water and feed them during dry spells and spring. Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new growth. Most small hebes are tolerant of wind and salt spray, making them perfect for exposed sites and coastal gardens across New Zealand.

Small Hebes for Every Garden

Whether you want a low, colourful hedge, a hardy potted accent, or reliable foliage for a layered border, small hebes deliver beauty and versatility. Explore our range of quality small hebes, including Hebe Caledonia, Hebe 'Lollipop', Hebe 'Wiri Mist', Hebe Wairua Beauty, and Hebe Sutherlandii, to find the perfect match for your space. With their easy care and year-round appeal, small hebes make a smart choice for every New Zealand gardener.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.