Hebe 'Golden Hour'

Description and Characteristics

Hebe ‘Golden Hour’ is a vibrant, compact evergreen shrub celebrated for its striking golden-yellow foliage and subtle seasonal flower spikes. Its bright leaves emerge lime-green and quickly develop into a rich golden hue, often with warmer tones in cooler weather. Unlike some variegated Hebes, ‘Golden Hour’ is known for its uniform colouring, creating a vivid splash of year-round interest.

This cultivar forms a neat, rounded mound, typically reaching 30–50 cm in height and 40–60 cm in spread, making it perfect for low borders, edging, containers, and seasonal displays. In summer, it may produce small pale lilac to white flower spikes, which are subtle but attractive to pollinators.

Ideal for modern gardens, patio pots, and urban planting schemes, Hebe ‘Golden Hour’ is a low-maintenance shrub offering both ornamental foliage and modest floral appeal.

• Evergreen with bright golden-yellow foliage

• Forms a compact, rounded shrub: 30–50 cm height, 40–60 cm spread

• Produces pale lilac or white flowers in summer

• Outstanding foliage colour year-round

• Perfect for containers, rockeries, borders, and formal edging

• Attracts bees and butterflies when in bloom

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Hebe ‘Golden Hour’ is a resilient and easy-to-grow plant that thrives in sunny, well-drained conditions. Its bright foliage performs best with sufficient sunlight and doesn’t require much attention to stay looking good.

• Light Requirements:

  • Prefers full sun for richest golden colouring

  • Tolerates light partial shade, especially in hot or exposed climates

• Soil Preferences:

  • Prefers well-drained, fertile to moderately poor soil

  • Tolerates loam, sand, or chalk-based soils

  • Avoid waterlogged or compacted soils; improve drainage where needed

• Watering Needs:

  • Water regularly during establishment

  • Once established, moderately drought-tolerant

  • In containers, keep soil moist but not wet

• Feeding:

  • Feed with a balanced fertiliser in early spring

  • Container-grown plants may benefit from monthly liquid feeding during summer

• Pruning and Maintenance:

  • Lightly trim after flowering or in early spring to shape and encourage bushy growth

  • Deadhead flower spikes if desired for tidiness

  • Avoid hard pruning into old wood

• Winter Care:

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

  • Mulch around the base in late autumn in colder regions

  • In exposed sites or harsh winters, use horticultural fleece or move containers to shelter

Garden Use, Companion Plants, and Pollinator Benefits

Hebe ‘Golden Hour’ provides striking evergreen foliage, neat form, and seasonal interest, making it versatile for many landscape styles—from modern minimalist to cottage gardens.

• Design Uses:

  • Ideal for low hedging, edging, mixed borders, or pots and troughs

  • Excellent in coastal gardens and urban designs for its durability and colour

  • Useful for lightening dark corners or providing contrast in mixed planting schemes

• Companion Plants:

  • Pairs beautifully with lavender, salvia, artemisia, heuchera, and compact grasses

  • Contrasts well with deep green or purple foliage plants like Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’ or Heuchera ‘Obsidian’

  • Adds colour next to grey or silver plants such as Stachys byzantina or Senecio ‘Angel Wings’

• Pollinator Benefits:

  • Flowers provide a modest nectar source for bees and butterflies in summer

  • Adds value to biodiversity-focused gardens with minimal care

• Container Use:

  • Outstanding for patio pots, window boxes, or entrance displays

  • Use a loam-based compost with grit for drainage

  • Pair with trailing or upright companions for seasonal mixed planters

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Generally pest- and disease-free

  • Root rot can occur in poorly drained soil—ensure good drainage

  • Rarely troubled by aphids or mildew in well-spaced, airy positions

• Size
  2 Ltr pot

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.