Hebe elliptica

Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Veronica elliptica, Forst. f. (V. decussata, Ait.). Half-hardy, much-branched shrub, or even small tree, 5-20 ft. high. There are several distinct varieties; the most common in cult. is about 8 ft. high: lvs. petiolate, elliptic-oblong, 1/2 - 1 in. long, apiculate, truncate at base, pale green, rather thick, margins edged with white pubescence, midrib prominent beneath: racemes near tips of branches, short, 1 – 1 1/2 in. long, laxly 4-12-fld.: fls. large, blue for a brief period, then white, sweet-scented: caps. twice as long as calyx. Late summer. Seacoast on rock or on ground mixed with other shrubs. Subantarctic S. Amer., Lord Auckland and Campbell Isls. and New Zeal. B.M. 242. J.H. III. 52:38.—V. Lewisii, J. B. Armstg., a desirable half-hardy, late-blooming species is related to the above and may be a hybrid. It has larger lvs., dense-fld. racemes 2 – 2 1/2 in. long and very large white fls. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.