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Parahebe perfoliata
| Sun-loving shrubs from down under, their neat, low mats brighten a rocky slope or raised terrace with small summer blossoms on slender stalks. They are hard to find, as few United States nurseries seem to stock them, but they are worth the search. Parahebe lyallii's trailing stems take root wherever they touch ground. A charming ground cover, Parahebe decora's 2- to 6-inch-tall stems of white to pink flowers dance above a carpet of tiny round leaves. The creeping Parahebe canescens has tiny 1/3-inch hairy leaves and pale blue flowers. Easy to grow in the right mild climate -- neither too hot nor too cold, with shelter from chilling wind. The shortest, smallest-leafed species are most hardy. Give full sun and a well-drained, low-fertility soil. Clip down in spring to keep dense and compact. Grow from cuttings, since plants grown from seed may not flower for 3 to 4 years. Vulnerable to leaf spot and mildew if too damp in winter. |
Pairs of bluish-green leaves clasp the strong unbranched stems. In summer, long sprays of blue flowers cluster at the tips. An excellent choice for gray-leaved borders. Keep propagating from cuttings, as plants over 3 years old become less cold-hardy.
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Attributes - Parahebe perfoliata
Plant Type: Perennial
Bloom Season: Early Summer through Late Summer
Flower Color: Blue
Foliage: Evergreen
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. to 2 ft.
Width: 1 ft. 6 in.
Sunlight: Full Sun
Climate: Zones 9, 10
Notes: Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers.
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