Hebe Red Edge or Veronica Red Edge

Hebe Red Edge, also known as Veronica Red Edge, is a small, compact, evergreen shrub prized for its striking foliage and neat growth habit. The blue-grey leaves are edged in red, with the margin colour intensifying in winter, creating year-round visual interest. From early summer, short spikes of pale purple flowers emerge, gradually fading to white, providing delicate but noticeable seasonal colour. Awarded both the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) and the Perfect for Pollinators Badge, Hebe Red Edge is highly valued for its ornamental appeal and ability to attract bees and other pollinators. Its tidy, low-growing form makes it suitable for patio pots, borders, and rockeries, adding subtle elegance without dominating the surrounding planting.

Hebe Red Edge forms a compact, rounded mound of evergreen foliage with blue-grey leaves that are prominently margined in red, especially during the colder months. The short, pale purple flower spikes appear in early summer and gradually fade to white, offering a soft contrast to the foliage. The blooms are highly attractive to pollinators and provide extended seasonal interest. Compared with other popular Hebe varieties, Hebe Red Edge has more silvery-blue leaves and smaller, paler flowers than Hebe Wiri Charm, which features dark green foliage with dark pink-purple blooms, and it exhibits cooler-toned foliage and subtler flower colour compared with Hebe Nicola’s Blush, which has red-edged mid-green leaves and magenta-pink flowers fading to white. Hebe Red Edge pairs well with companion plants such as heuchera, lavender, and ornamental grasses, which highlight its distinctive foliage tones while adding texture and contrast to the garden.

Height and Spread of Hebe Red Edge:

Hebe Red Edge typically reaches a height and spread of approximately 50 cm, forming a tidy, compact mound. Its modest dimensions make it ideal for small gardens, patio containers, or the front of mixed borders where evergreen structure and gentle seasonal colour are desired without overwhelming neighbouring plants.

How Hardy is Hebe Red Edge?

Hebe Red Edge is very hardy across the UK, tolerating frost and colder temperatures once established. It prefers well-drained, fertile soil and performs best in full sun to partial shade. Like most hebes, it requires good drainage in winter, particularly in exposed or container-grown situations. Its evergreen habit and winter-coloured foliage make it particularly attractive in gardens where year-round visual interest is valued.

Uses in Garden and Landscape:

Hebe Red Edge is ideal for mixed borders, rockeries, low-maintenance gardens, and container plantings. The red-edged blue-grey foliage provides winter contrast, while the pale purple flower spikes offer summer interest and attract pollinators. When planted alongside Hebe Wiri Charm, the deeper green foliage and richer pink-purple flowers of Wiri Charm provide a vibrant contrast to Red Edge, while Hebe Nicola’s Blush adds a softer, warmer pink tone to the composition. This makes Hebe Red Edge an excellent choice for layered hebe plantings or coordinated colour-themed borders. Its compact habit also suits small urban gardens or wildlife-friendly spaces where both evergreen structure and seasonal nectar sources are desired.

Care Tips:

Plant Hebe Red Edge in spring or early autumn in well-drained soil enriched with organic matter, choosing a sunny or lightly shaded position. Water regularly during the first season to encourage strong root establishment, then reduce watering once settled. Light pruning after flowering will help maintain its compact mound shape and encourage fresh growth, but avoid cutting into old wood. Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring to support foliage health and flower production. Container-grown specimens benefit from winter protection in exposed sites. With routine care, Hebe Red Edge will provide long-lasting colour, structural interest, and pollinator-friendly blooms.