Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Hebe
Species: H. Red Edge
Binomial name: Hebe ‘Red Edge’
This well-known hebe hybrid was raised by Graham Hutchins at County Park Nursery a small specialist plant nursery in Essex, England about 1974. It was raised from a seedling from a plant Hebe albicans ‘Snow Mountain’. Its red margined leaves indicate it is a hybrid.
Hebe ‘Red Edge’ forms a tight dome of grey-green, evergreen foliage 60 cm or more high. The 2 cm long leaves are grey-green, with narrow red margins and veining when young. In winter they take on a reddish tint. This hardy plant can tolerate temperatures down to at least -15°c.
In early summer pink buds open to lilac-blue flowers on short spikes these fading to white. It is best to grow Hebe ‘Red Edge’ where it gets lots of sunshine as this brings out the best of its colourings.
