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Veronica salicifolia / Koromiko (I think) Grown straggly

nickoslesterosnickoslesteros Posts: 178
edited June 2023 in Problem solving
Hello

I (think) I have a Koromiko. Through my own neglect, it has grown rather leggy and straggly. There seems to be a lof of fresh growth from the bottom. Is this something which can be cut down hard? Or is there a way I can improve the overall presentation of the bush, do you think? Attached a few photos.

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers

Nick





Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Most of us would call that a Hebe, although I think they are officially classed as Veronica now. They do tend to get leggy with age (so it's not necessarily down to neglect), and they don't always do well from a hard cut back but given that yours has some new growth from low down, I think I would chance it and cut down the bare branches to where the new growth is.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • nickoslesterosnickoslesteros Posts: 178
    edited June 2023
    Superb. Is that a job that could wait till next year (so I can make the most of the blooms), do you think?

    Hebe! Ah makes sense. I used an online plant identifier - hence the name I came up with
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It'll depend where you're located. As @JennyJ says - they [Hebes]  won't always come back after being pruned, especially if you're in a cold wet area. It's worth doing now though, with that new growth lower down. 
    They really need trimmed regularly right from the start to do well. Usually after flowering is over. You could wait until the flowers are over, but it would need to make growth that can harden off properly before frosts start, so again - it depends whereabouts you are and what your climate is like.
    You could take cuttings to grow on and replace that one if it doesn't survive, and then it's easier to keep maintained.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • nickoslesterosnickoslesteros Posts: 178
    I'm on the north west coast. Quite mild, weather wise, and it's in a fairly sheltered spot. I suppose, is it necessary to cut back? Wondered if I could wait for all the new growth to fill it out a bit more and take a view on It in say a year or so"s time? Please forgive the endless questions, I'm rapidly trying k learn how to get on top of a large garden :)
  • nickoslesterosnickoslesteros Posts: 178
    Seems to be doing ok-ish after the hard prune (in terms of, it's not dead!) What do the experts think?


  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    If it's not dead that's a good thing. You can cure straggly but you can't cure dead. You're really making headway in your garden. Keep going, it'll be worth it. 😍
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