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Hebe Help!!

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  • Don't know if I'm too late commenting on this.  I live in a flat and have 2 hebes on my balcony.  It looks like they've been sun damaged underneath... The top leaves are still green but the underneath looks just like dried brown wood and the leaves are all brown and dry... Is there a way to bring them back to life?  I may have forgotten to water them a few times but am watering them again now... Hope someone can help!

  • Hi,

    I am no gardener, I inherited my Hebe last autumn along with a lot of my late mums shrubs. It was never potted on, it was never ever fed and only got watered when it rained. It was left in a shaded corner for years....I can remember using it for a goal post back in about 1970 so its well over 40 years old now. When I got it home I it was very leggy, and tatty. I had not a clue what I was doing so I just pruned everything off....put it in a better pot with some compost and left it outside over the winter. Now it has grown back, there are loads of branches and its lush with foliage. The purple flowers are just about to break open.

  • dokanedokane Posts: 28

    I bought a purple flowered hebe at the end of last summer. It still had flowers on at the time. It had nothing to identify the type. This year it has grown lots but no sign of any flowers.  It is in clay soil and part shade.

    Any ideas why there are no flowers?

  • I have about 12 different ones in my garden and I'm on clay soil. They all do very well even the one in the bed that gets flooded after heavy rain, although that one must be 20 years old, so it's got used to it. The only one that hasn't flowered yet is Black Knight, but that's only been in 2 years and grown from a cutting, so no very big. I'm keeping my fingers crossed though as it's a late flowering one. So I suggest anyone with clay soils put some grit in the hole when planting. But I love this family of shrubs. Something for any place, Some grow tall , some short, spreading or upright , even some suitable for rockeries. With flowers that go on and on, what more could you ask for?

  • dokanedokane Posts: 28

    Thanks Verdun. It looks like it is an Autumn Glory so I havent given up hope on some flowers. 

    Will take your advice re taking cuttings also.

  • I have just pruned my he be it is one of the larger variety.

    I'm worried because I have pruned it in June. Please help

    will it be ok. I love gardening but not sure when to prune.

    Has anyone got any tips?
  • WintersongWintersong Posts: 2,436

    As a general rule, prune after flowering unless there is risk of frost. If you're really not sure then don't prune at all and the worst that could happen is a larger plant than you want image

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    My best tip is to buy the RHS book on pruning - no more mistakes!

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Louise BLouise B Posts: 81
    I have one that sounds similar that's about 5ft. It's quite a nice shape except for the "gardener" (aka an underqualified unemployed friend) making room for my echinops by chopping the side of it. It hasn't grown back this year.
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