Veronica sect. Hebe is a group of plants within the genus Veronica, native to New Zealand,
Rapa in French Polynesia, the
Falkland Islands and South America. It was formerly treated as the separate genus Hebe (⫽ˈhiːbiː⫽[1]). It includes about 90 species. Almost all species occur in New Zealand, apart from Veronica rapensis (
endemic to Rapa) and Veronica salicifolia, found in South America. It is named after the
Greek goddess of youth,
Hebe. Informally, species in the section may be called shrubby veronicas or hebes.
Hebes are widely grown as ornamental plants (see
Cultivation below).
Description
Species in Veronica sect. Hebe have four perpendicular rows of
leaves in opposite
decussate pairs. The
flowers are
perfect, the
corolla usually has four slightly unequal lobes, the flower has two
stamens and a long
style. Flowers are arranged in a
spikedinflorescence. Identification of species is difficult, especially if they are not in flower. The plants range in size from dwarf shrubs to small trees up to 7 metres (23 feet), and are distributed from coastal to
alpine ecosystems. Large-leaved species are normally found on the coast, in lowland scrub and along forest margins. At higher altitudes smaller-leaved species grow, and in alpine areas there are whipcord species with leaves reduced to thick scales.
Taxonomy
There are differing classifications for the genus. The former genus Hebe, together with the related Australasian genera Chionohebe, Derwentia, Detzneria, Parahebe, Heliohebe and Leonohebe are now included in the larger genus Veronica (hence the common name shrubby veronicas).[2][3][4]
Species
About 90–100 species were formerly placed in Hebe and have been moved to Veronica, including:
Hebes are valued in gardens in
temperate climates as
evergreen shrubs with decorative (sometimes
variegated) leaves. The flowers, in shades of blue, purple, pink or white, appear throughout summer and autumn. Their ability to withstand salt-laden winds makes them especially suited to coastal areas, for instance the South West of England, where they are often grown as hedges.
Prostrate varieties can be used as
groundcover.[6][7]
Hebes cope with most soil types, and can be
propagated easily from both seed and
cuttings. Wild
hybrids in section Hebe are uncommon; however, there are many cultivated hybrids, such as Veronica × franciscana.