Q: I saw a plant in Germany which I would like to grow here. The label from the plant named it “Hebe buxifolia”. Is it locally available?

A: Hebe is native to New Zealand, where it is grown as an evergreen shrub in warm climates and along the seacoast. Most of the varieties of hebe would not be winter-hardy in Atlanta, but Hebe buxifolia is hardier than the rest.

“Patty’s Purple” is listed as hardy to Zone 8, the lower half of Georgia. It might do fine here in a protected location. Ask local nurseries to order it for you – or look for it on your next visit to Florida.

See Hebe in Oregon