Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Hebe
Species: H. topiaria
Scientific name: Hebe topiaria
Hebe topiaria is a much branched NZ native alpine shrub which grows wild in the Nelson Mountains to Arthur’s Pass in North Canterbury in the north of the South Island, New Zealand. It occurs in subalpine scrub and tussock land 1000-1500m.
Hebe topiaria forms a compact spherical ball of blue-grey foliage, evergreen foliage, 1 m high and 2 m wide. This shrub looks like it has just been clipped over, hence its Latin name ‘topiaria’.
The leaves are 1.2 cm long. It produces small white/pink flowers early summer.
