The joy (or not) of hebes!

This week it’s:

THIS week’s subject is a group of shrubs that give valuable leaf and flower colour through the year – and I don’t like them! I’ve had several hebes in my gardens and, in each case, when they became too large, they were dutifully cut back. I was taught at college that they could be hard-pruned, and all the books confirmed it. I ruined three plants, because they did not regenerate as the books had promised. I spoke to head gardeners and others ‘in the know’, who told me that pruning shouldn’t be a problem, as hebes sprout again willingly. Well, not in my experience! I haven’t liked them since. However, millions of Brits adore hebes, and they’re frequently chosen by landscapers for public areas because they’re low maintenance. Let’s take a closer look