Hardy or in need of protection? (Shrub veronica)

What temperatures does Hebe survive in winter?

Hebe is available in stores in many varieties. These include supposedly hardy varieties such as Raise addenda or Lift armstrongii. However, it is misleading to claim that these shrub veronics can survive a cold winter outdoors.

It is true that the small-leaved varieties tolerate sub-zero temperatures better than the large-leaved types of lifting. But it shouldn't be colder than minus five degrees at the location - and even that only for a short time.

Basically, you should have varieties with small leaves with good winter protection in the garden can overwinter. Large-leaf varieties, on the other hand, should be grown in the bucket from the beginning so that you can overwinter the plant frost-free.

Hebe overwinter in a cool but frost-free place

You can grow Hebe all year round as an ornamental plant in the house or in the tub on the terrace

maintain. Shrub veronica that are designated as conditionally hardy varieties can also be planted outdoors if you provide winter protection in winter.

Hebe pulled in a bucket or pot needs a cool, but frost-free place in winter. This also applies to varieties that you keep in the flower window.

In winter, place the pots in a place where the temperature is ideally five to ten degrees. The location must be bright, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow. Suitable places are:

• Corridor area
• Attic
• unheated winter garden
• cool greenhouse

Get used to the warmth slowly after wintering

When the temperature rises in the spring, begin to slowly get the lift used to warmer temperatures again.

You shouldn't bring the ornamental plant straight into the warm living room, but first put it a little warmer for the hour.

You can bring lifts in the bucket outside on frost-free days. Only when it freezes at night should you bring you back inside.

How to overwinter shrub veronica in the garden

If you have put hardy varieties outdoors, there are two ways to overwinter them. You can dig them up in the fall and put them in a bucket. This is then overwintered in a frost-free place.

If it is not possible to bring shrub veronica into the house in winter, sprinkle a mulch blanket around the plant. Leaves or lawn clippings are suitable for this.

Cover the plant itself with brushwood or, even better, fir branches. Fir branches have the advantage that the needles fall off in spring and so light reaches the Hebe.