Hebe 'GOLDEN ESK'

Golden Esk is a whipcord type hebe. It produces sprays of cypress-like branches covered with tiny, scale-like leaves of bright green colour that changes to golden yellow or even honey yellow in autumn and winter. The branches grow upright with elegantly drooping their tops.

It grows slowly and requires no pruning. Only unpruned plants maintain their original, inimitable shape. Only if some branches die off after a severe winter or with age you can cut them off. If you need to reduce its size or if you want to shape it make sure you cut the plant evenly on all sides.

Hebes need very well-drained but constantly moist, poor or medium fertile soil that is anything from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. It needs good mulching at all times. They originate in New Zealand i.e. a country with high air humidity and mild winters so for our climate we only choose the hardies species and varieties which are mostly dwarf and have small leaves. They are hardy on sites sheltered from strong, drying winds and hidden from direct winter sunlight to about -24°C (USDA zone 6). You can protect them with fir branches or white woven in colder regions. Adult hebes usually regenerate readily after harsh winter damage if they are well-established. They can be grown with no protection in USDA zones 7 and up.

Last update 23-02-2011