Hebe—often called Shrubby Veronica—is a total favorite in the garden, usually grown as a charming annual. Their eye-catching blooms look amazing when paired with other flowering plants. But don’t overlook the non-flowering varieties! These leafy beauties are super decorative and handle pruning so well that they make fantastic low hedges or border edgings.
Everything You Need to Know About ‘Green Globe’ Hebe
The ‘Green Globe’ variety is a real standout with its dense, mossy-green foliage that’s just begging to be shaped. If you’re a fan of geometric garden features—like those classic evergreen spheres—this Hebe is perfect for adding a “wow” factor to your flower beds. It’s also a popular choice for low-maintenance cemetery plantings because it stays tidy with very little fuss. And with a little bit of luck and protection, you can even get it to overwinter!
When and How to Prune
In the spring, ‘Green Globe’ produces tiny, subtle flowers. Just before these appear is the best time to give your plant a good, hard prune. You’ll want to avoid heavy cutting during or right after the blooming period to make sure the plant stays strong enough to survive the winter outdoors. Spring is also the prime time for topiary shaping. If you’re aiming for a perfect sphere, I highly recommend using a template to make the job easier. You can DIY one yourself or pick one up at your local garden center.
Getting Started with Topiary Shaping
If you want to train your Hebe into a specific shape, here’s the best way to do it:
- Place your template (like a wire sphere) over or around the plant.
- Trim back any protruding shoots, but be careful not to take off more than a third of the growth at once.
- Keep an eye on how the plant grows throughout the season.
- As soon as stray shoots start poking out of your sphere, snip them off.
- Give it one more light trim in the fall to tidy things up.
Within about a year, your ‘Green Globe’ should transform into a perfect ball. Once you’ve achieved the shape you want, you’ll only need to do minor maintenance to keep it looking sharp. You can remove dead or dry twigs any time of year. If your Hebe makes it through the winter, just give it a quick “haircut” in the spring to refresh the shape. Plus, those leftover clippings are perfect for starting new plants!
How to Grow New Plants from Cuttings
Don’t throw away those trimmings! Take fresh cuttings that are at least 2 inches long and tuck them into pots filled with seed-starting mix. Keep the soil consistently moist and place the pots in a warm, bright spot. Pro tip: Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag to create a mini-greenhouse effect—it really speeds up the rooting process. Once the cuttings have established a good root system, they’re ready to be moved into larger containers or out into the garden.
