Hebe Green Globe

Hebe Green Globe is a particularly compact bush that naturally forms a dense ball of very bright green. Its evergreen foliage, particularly fine and dense, gives it the appearance of a green cushion, much like a cotton lavender or dwarf conifer. It blooms, if at all, from June to August, in the form of discreet white spikes. It is a very endearing plant and easy to grow in mild climates, very pretty on a terrace or in open ground in a rockery or even in a Japanese-style bed.

The 'Green Globe' Hebe, also marketed as 'Emerald Green', is a hybrid cultivar selected for its very pretty foliage and small size. It belongs to the family of Plantaginaceae and is similar to perennial veronicas. It forms a small, regular and rounded bush about 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) in all directions. Its stems, which lignify with age, bear thin, elliptical, tiny, thick and leathery leaves, of a tender green-yellow colour. They are densely and regularly arranged on the branches, giving them a brush-like aspect. The flowering is insignificant, sometimes totally absent. Pruning after flowering is advised, but not essential, to maintain a compact habit and a neat appearance to this small bushy Hebe.

With relatively slow growth and relatively low hardiness, Hebes are generally placed alonsgide perennial plants because their usage is closer to these than to shrubs. The 'Green Globe' variety, on the other hand, has a very compact and dense ball shape that is well suited for ornamenting terraces and balconies, mixed with heathers or creeping rosemary, for example. It can also be used for topiary, instead of boxwood, as it allows for softer shapes. In favourable climates it can be used for neat borders alongside paths or terraces, as well to create fluffy carpets of greenery. In cold regions Hebes can be grown in large pots on the terrace and stored in a bright, unheated place during winter. It should be noted that Hebes are highly recommended for urban gardens as they tolerate pollution quite well.