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Hebe Sapphire/ Blue Gem/ Sutherlandii/ Charming White success in UK South East?

sharanshrubssharanshrubs Posts: 74
in Plants
Hi, does anyone have any experience of growing the following hebes with success in UK South East ? I've read that hebes dont always survive winter/frosts despite RHS Hardy ratings:

Hebe Sapphire
Hebe Blue Gem
Hebe pinguifolia ‘Sutherlandii’
Hebe Charming White


Many thanks!

Posts

  • sharanshrubssharanshrubs Posts: 74
    Any advice anyone?
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I'm not in the South East, but have lost hebes this Winter following a cold spell of ice and snow in early December. 
    I think a lot depends on the situation. lf you have a very sheltered garden for example they might survive whereas even in the garden next door they may not. 

     Perhaps the lack of response means no one has had any success !  :)
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    There are dead Hebes everywhere around here sad to say. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If it's a Hebe you absolutely, desperately want, you'd have to consider taking cuttings if it isn't reliably hardy, or your conditions are less than ideal for them.
    Many of them don't do well here long term because it's wet cold they hate. I've often lost them, or lost parts of them.
    The pinguifolias are usually a bit tougher than many others because of the foliage size. H. pagei is good because it's more of a ground covering shrub too. The bigger the foliage, the less tough they tend to be too. Where you site them also matters. 

    I don't think you can judge the ongoing weather from that recent spell though, if you're in an area that doesn't normally experience it. If you don't get harsh winters regularly, take cuttings as back up in case they don't make it.  :)
    You could also have them potted, and overwinter them if you have somewhere under cover. It doesn't suit all types, but it's worth a shot. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited March 2023
    Just been out for a walk saw a variegated Hebe looking beautiful in the sun. Microclimate as @AnniD mentions is the key. The soil in this garden would be fairly well drained and it was also  in a sheltered sunny spot.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    There's a large-leafed non-variegated one overhanging into the street down the road from us which had flowers on it a couple of weeks ago (!). I must have another look next time I'm down that way in daylight. I haven't had much success with them.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • sharanshrubssharanshrubs Posts: 74
    Thank you all for your advice!
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @JennyJ Yes they now seem to flower at strange times of year making any necessary pruning impossible.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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