Hebe 'Wiri Charm'

A compact, bushy, evergreen shrub that grows up to 70m tall and 1.3m wide.

Rose-purple flowers appear in early summer with a second flush in late autumn. The dark green leaves are spear-shaped and the branches reddish in colour.

Prefers full sun and well-draining soil but will tolerates coastal sites and frost.

Always choose healthy, well-grown plants and plant after autumn rains. On heavy soils, raise the level of beds and borders with extra topsoil and coarse pumice sand. Before planting, ensure the root ball is saturated and remove the planter pot with minimal root disturbance. Trim any broken roots and plant at the same level as in the container. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball, press in and water once planted. Make sure plants are watered well until established if planting in a drier period. Plant with some general slow-release fertiliser and then every spring, apply organic fertiliser at a handful per square metre (e.g. blood and bone). Planting too closely leads to spindly growth, poor flowering and eventual decline. In a well-planned border, flowering plants should just touch each other to create a full effect without overcrowding.

Apply mulch annually to suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Feed in spring with a balanced fertiliser such as blood and bone at a handful per square metre. Prune off any old flowers after flowering and trim to maintain shape if required. Most hebes benefit from a trim, as this helps them stay compact. They can be pruned relatively hard (down to a third) if they have got too large and leggy.

Attracts bees and butterflies.

Pest and disease-free as has been bred for Auckland conditions.

Native Plant Ideas

This hebe cultivar was raised by Jack Hobbs of the Auckland Botanic Gardens New Zealand and is a cross between Hebe diosmifolia and Hebe speciosa. It has been bred to have a good flowering habit and be less prone to fungal diseases. This hebe has a main as well as a secondary flowering period making them even more attractive for the gardener.