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Hebe advice

forsythia23forsythia23 Posts: 3
in Plants
Hi, i am looking for some advice please re. a hebe that is not looking too good.  We have had it for many years with no problem until this year.  It is completely brown on top but there is a little green showing at the bottom. We have cut it back a little. Do you think it is past saving?  Should we cut it back further?.  It is a much loved plant as it attracts so many bees.  I think it is a Silver Queen as it has purple flowers.  Any ideas would be helpful.  Thank you
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Posts

  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    I can't see your image for some reason, but the dieback is likely because of the conditions this winter. Hebes aren't very long-lived and won't grow back from dead wood, so it might be better to start over with a new plant.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I can't see it either, but it's as @Cambridgerose12 has said  @jlq - it's the wet/freeze cycle that does for them. Regular occurrence here with them. They can't cope with hard frosts, let alone ice,  after prolonged rain, and wetter soil, and they rarely come back well after cutting back, because of that. 
    I'd leave it for a good while if there's still some green showing though. Let it recover a good bit, then take the dead stuff off. You probably won't get flowers this year, but if it recovers for you, then that's what matters for this year. Depends how you feel about it - if it looks dire for several months, you're better cutting your losses and getting a new one as C.rose says   :)

    I think S. Queen is a variegated one isn't it? They tend to be less sturdy than the plain greens. Some of the reds are a bit iffy too. They all like milder conditions and nice free draining soil. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • forsythia23forsythia23 Posts: 3
    Thank you @Cambridgerose12 and Fairygirl for your replies. First time posting so wasn't sure how to upload the photo.  We will wait a few more months perhaps and see how it goes.  If we bought a new one - how quickly do they grow in height? Thanks again


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They take about a year to establish properly, assuming it's a decent sized plant being put in, then the growth varies according to variety. Probably around a couple of inches annually, but it's impossible to be accurate. Bigger varieties may grow around 4 to 6 inches annually. 
    Most shrubs take around five years or more to reach full size though   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • forsythia23forsythia23 Posts: 3
    Thank you @Fairygirl that's helpful.
  • GunStreetGirlGunStreetGirl Posts: 62
    I had some lovely hebes growing well from cuttings, but the freeze before Christmas killed them all sadly. I think I'll be forking out for a new one too.
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