Hebe ‘Marie Antoinette’ – A versatile Hebe

With green foliage and purple flowers, Hebe ‘Marie Antoinette’ is a small to medium plant. Another of the compact growing Hebes, it tolerates coastal conditions and is resistant to powdery mildew.

The purple flowers contras well against the mid green foliage. Flowers themselves appear as short spikes to around 4cm (2 inches) in length. Foliage is a mid green,  short and narrow, which adds to the compact look.

Landscaping Uses

With a subtle contrast between flowers and foliage, Hebe ‘Marie Antoinette’ fits in well with many landscaping schemes.

As it is a fairly dense bushy plant, and easy to prune, it can also be used as a low hedging plant.

Excellent for growing in containers.

Hebe ‘Marie Antoinette’ Care

Best grown in a humus rich moist soil in a position in full sun to part shade.

When planting, dig in some well rotted compost a few weeks before.

• Plant to the same depth as Hebe ‘Marie Antoinette’ was in its container.
• Firm in and water in well with a liquid fertiliser.
• Mulch around the plant to maintain a cool moist root run.
• Hebe ‘Marie Antoinette’ should be fertilised in early spring with a general purpose slow release type fertiliser.
• Water well before fertilising and again after. A second application in early summer will be beneficial in poorer soils.

Pruning

It is a bit of a fallacy that Hebes do not like pruning.

Hebe ’Marie Antoinette’ can be lightly pruned after flowering to maintain a more bushy shape.

A simple rule is – Do not cut back into old wood, and always leave good foliage on each stem.

Summary

• Plant Type – Shrub.
• Flower Colour – Purple.
• Leaf – Mid green. Shortish Lancelot shaped
• Height – 1m to 1.5  however can be pruned to .5m if required.
• Spread – 1m.
• Growth Rate – Medium to Fast.
• Sun Shade – Best in Full to Good morning sun with a little light afternoon shade in warmer, drier areas.
• Climate – Cool to Temperate.
• Water – Will require extra water during long dry periods.
• Coastal Suitability – Yes.
• Frost Tolerance – Moderate.
• Flowering Period – Spring through summer.