Garden Q&A: Will hebes thrive in my seaside Kerry garden?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions 

Purple hebe. File picture

I am thinking about planting some hebes in my garden in Waterville in Kerry. We are about 50m back from the sea. Do you think a hebe would thrive (or at least survive!) there?

ANSWER

I like the way you qualified “thrive” with the word “survive” as yes, anything growing that close to the Atlantic is going to struggle to establish.

Not all hebes will survive such exposure but several species will do. Try Hebe rakiaensis, which is a relatively slow-growing, shrubby and compact form with small pale green leaves and clusters of white flowers. 

Hebe franciscana is bigger, reaching one metre — and more in height will produce masses of beautiful, purple, fluffy flowers and the variegated form will also provide some interesting leaf colour.

Hebe albicans is another low growing form which should do well with silvery-grey foliage and white flowers.

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