Hebe Blondie

Description and Characteristics

Hebe ‘Blondie’ is a compact, evergreen shrub known for its bright cream-and-green variegated foliage and delicate lavender flower spikes that bloom in summer. The foliage is small, oval, and glossy with creamy-yellow to ivory margins that glow in full sun and add year-round visual appeal to borders and containers.

A member of the Hebe genus, ‘Blondie’ offers neat, bushy growth and maintains a rounded shape without heavy pruning. Mature plants typically reach 30–50 cm in height and 40–60 cm in spread, making it ideal for small gardens, patios, containers, and pathway edges. Its compact size and evergreen colour make it suitable for formal planting, coastal schemes, and modern designs.

In early to mid-summer, short flower spikes emerge above the foliage, producing soft lilac to pale purple flowers, which are a nectar source for bees and butterflies.

• Evergreen, low-maintenance shrub with bright variegated foliage

• Produces pale lilac flower spikes in early to mid-summer

• Height: 30–50 cm; Spread: 40–60 cm

• Naturally neat and mounding growth habit

• Ideal for pots, rockeries, edging, and year-round interest

• Attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Hebe ‘Blondie’ is an easy-care shrub that performs best in sunny, well-drained conditions. It’s low-growing, frost-tolerant in mild climates, and makes an excellent option for low-maintenance planting schemes.

• Light Requirements:

  • Prefers full sun for best leaf colour and flower production

  • Tolerates partial shade, but foliage may be less vibrant

• Soil Preferences:

  • Grows in well-drained, moderately fertile soil

  • Suitable for sandy, loamy, or chalky soil types

  • Avoid poorly drained or heavy clay conditions

• Watering Needs:

  • Water regularly during the establishment period

  • Once mature, it is moderately drought-tolerant

  • For pots, ensure containers have proper drainage holes and avoid overwatering

• Feeding:

  • Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring

  • Container-grown plants benefit from monthly feeding during the growing season

• Pruning and Maintenance:

  • Deadhead flowers after blooming to encourage tidiness

  • Lightly trim after flowering or in early spring to maintain compact shape

  • Avoid cutting into old wood as regrowth can be slow

• Winter Care:

  • Hardy to around -5°C to -10°C (RHS H4–H5)

  • In colder regions or exposed sites, apply mulch at the base in late autumn

  • Container-grown plants can be moved to a sheltered or unheated greenhouse

Design Uses, Companion Plants, and Pollinator Benefits

Hebe ‘Blondie’ combines bold foliage colour, a tidy habit, and modest flowers, making it highly versatile in both traditional and modern garden settings.

• Design Uses:

  • Perfect for low borders, edging paths, patio containers, and rockeries

  • A bright addition to winter planting schemes or seasonal containers

  • Useful in urban gardens, coastal plantings, and small space layouts

• Companion Plants:

  • Combine with heuchera, lavender, salvia, sedum, and ornamental grasses

  • Complements silver foliage plants like Stachys byzantina and Artemisia

  • Adds contrast next to deep green or purple-leaved shrubs

• Pollinator Value:

  • Bee-friendly flowers provide nectar in early summer

  • Supports hoverflies and butterflies during their active period

  • Valuable in pollinator-friendly urban spaces

• Container Use:

  • A top performer in pots and troughs

  • Ideal for doorway displays, terraces, or balconies

  • Use loam-based compost with added grit for drainage

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Generally pest- and disease-free

  • May suffer from root rot in waterlogged soils—ensure sharp drainage

  • Occasionally affected by aphids or mildew—improve air circulation

• Size
  17 cm

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.