Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Hebe
Species: H. carnosula
Binomial name: Hebe carnosula
Hebe carnosula is a dense erect low growing evergreen shrub from Dun Mountain and Red Hills Range in the Nelson region in the north of the South Island of New Zealand. It is found growing on areas with ultrabasic rock (very low silica content). It grows to about 0.5m high and has a spread of 0.5m.
The leaves are grey-green, dish-shaped, about 12 mm long and 7 mm wide. Sometimes the leaf margins are tinged red. The flowers appear in summer as white spikes, opening from pink buds which crowd the branch tips.
Photographed at Otari Native Botanic Garden and Wilton's Bush Reserve. Wellington.
