Hebe 'Spender's Seedling'

After a long period of being perplexed, I think I have finally sorted out the correct name of this plant. For a long time I was selling it as 'Stephen Spencer' so I apologize for the misnomer. This is a fabulous cultivar that appears to be very rare in the USA. Narrow, bright green leaves are about 2” long, and showy white flowers cover the plant in June. It grows vigorously making a broad shrub about 4 - 5' tall and wider. The plant in the Gerdemann garden that was my original source was a 14' tall tree, but I think this size is really exceptional as that plant is in the perfect setting, in the perfect climate. Nowhere else have I seen it exceed about 5' so I no longer advertise it as being treelike. I tend to compare it to H. salicifolia but smaller and hardier - it can handle temperatures down to about 12 °F once established. I have the late Jim Gerdemann, a dearly missed friend, to thank for sharing this excellent garden plant with me. I'm still perplexed, just not about this plant. New Zealand. In full sun it will make dense, compact growth, but it will also grow pretty well in partial shade. Hardy to about 10 °F.

Tall growing late blooming white flowers. Drought tolerant once established.