Kingdom: Plantae
Superphylum: Tracheophyta
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Hebe
Species: H. bollonsii
Scientific name: Hebe bollonsii
Hebe bollonsii (Veronica bollonsii) is quick growing shrub whose natural habitat is within scrub in exposed conditions on the coast from Tutukaka north to about Mimiwhangata and on the Poor Knights and Hen & Chicken Islands. It was named after the naturalist Captain John P. Bollon of the survey ship NZGSS Hinemoa which was a 542-ton New Zealand Government Service Steamer survey ship.
Hebe bollonsii is a quick growing large, erect, heavily branched, bushy, evergreen, shrub (2 x 3 m). It has dark green oval pointed leaves are up to >90 mm long and >31 mm wide. The flowers are white or pale lilac and are borne on >15 mm spikes during September – February. Flowering can be sporadic throughout the year.
During 1982 Jack Hobbs at the Auckland Regional Botanic Garden, New Zealand, as part of a program to breed hebes suitable for the Auckland climate. He raised a cultivar of Hebe bollonsii which was named ‘Hebe Wiri Image’ which is sold by nurseries. http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/hebes/hebe-wiri-image.html
Photographed at Tutukaka, Northland.
