Hebe 'Wiri Desire'

A compact evergreen shrub that grows to 1.2m tall and 1m wide.

Spikes of deep rose pink flowers bloom in autumn and contrast well with the bronze new foliage which matures to matt green.

Grows well in poor to moderately fertile well-draining soil (preferably neutral to alkaline). Prefers full sun to partial shade. Will tolerate 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. Plant approximately 1m apart.

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 beneficial insects to the garden.

Free of pests and diseases as it was bred specifically for Auckland conditions.

In coastal gardens it combines happily with native shrubs such as Coprosma Karo Red or the chameleon-like Coprosma Pink Splendour which has apricot and red winter shadings changing to apricot and green in summer. For flower colour mingle Hebe Wiri Desire with pink flowered compact growing Grevillea Nancy Otzen or Zieria Pink Crystals which has tiny deep green foliage, smothered in little powder-pink flowers in winter and spring.
For a contrast of form and colour plant Hebe Wiri Desire with Cordyline varieties such as Green Goddess which has a distinctive, palm-like shape or the burgundy coloured Cordyline Red Star .
In gardens which are blessed with good soil Hebe Wiri Desire makes a handsome companion for Michelia yunnanensis which is like a low growing small leafed magnolia with deep green and very handsome foliage all year round and in spring masses of beautiful cream highly scented flowers. In similar situations it s also charming with blue flowered Dichroa Blue Sapphires pink or yellow Abutilons and bushy perennial Salvias such as Indigo Spires which flowers all summer and autumn or if the climate is mild right through winter too.

Native Plant Ideas

This hebe has been bred at the Auckland Botanic Gardens to produce plants which have a good flowering habit and are 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.