What soil does Shrubby veronica grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Is Shrubby veronica hardy?

Hardy down to -12 °C (USDA zone 8, RHS H5). Outdoors in this country it only survives with winter protection, or in a pot overwintered frost-free.

How far from the house should Shrubby veronica be planted?

Plant it at least 1 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How much water does Shrubby veronica need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Shrubby veronica

Hebe × hybrida

Shrubby veronica (Hebe × hybrida) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -12 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about PLN 13.

Illustration of Shrubby veronica — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A collective name for dense, evergreen dwarf shrubs from New Zealand that are grown for their shape: there are box-like green balls ('Green Globe', also sold as 'Emerald Gem'), conifer-like whipcords with ochre scale leaves (Hebe armstrongii, H. ochracea), grey-blue cushions (H. pinguifolia 'Pagei') and small bushes with tiny glossy leaves (H. odora, also called H. buxifolia). When choosing, look at leaf size: the small-leaved, whipcord and grey mound types are the toughest, and many of them flower little or not at all, while the large-leaved ones that carry purple, pink or white spikes from summer to autumn (Hebe 'Addenda' and the pot plants sold as "andersonii") are killed by a few degrees of frost, so treat those as seasonal or frost-free overwintered container plants. Plant the garden types in a sheltered spot out of winter sun and wind, in very well-drained soil that still does not dry out in summer, and do not prune hard, as old wood resprouts poorly. They are not fussy about lime.

Watch out for

Winter hardiness is the main problem in Central Europe: even the small-leaved types brown or die back in windy, sunny frost without snow cover, and below roughly -15 to -20 °C they can be killed unless covered with conifer branches or fleece; sudden early autumn and late spring frosts do the most damage. The large-leaved, free-flowering cultivars do not overwinter outdoors. In heavy soil that stays wet in winter Phytophthora root rot kills the plants, and they also dislike prolonged summer heat and drying out. Roots in a container freeze more easily than in the ground. Leaf spot, downy mildew and aphids occur.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 40 cm × 70 cm
Hardiness: down to -12 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

All details

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	40 cm × 70 cm
Ultimate size	20–90 cm × 30–90 cm
Hardiness	down to -12 °C (USDA 8, RHS H5)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	June–October, white, purple, pink, blue
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	50 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about PLN 13

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. PLN 13

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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