About

Veronica salicifolia, synonym Hebe salicifolia, the koromiko, or willow-leaf hebe, is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae, which is found throughout the South Island of New Zealand and in Chile. It is a large, evergreen shrub, reaching two metres (6 ft 7 in) in height, with light-green, spear-shaped leaves that are up to twelve centimetres (4.7 in) long, and white or pale lilac flowers.

How to grow it

Veronica salicifolia is a hardy plant but is not tolerant of shade and needs to be in grown in full sun and in a sheltered area with a well drained soil. It can, however, tolerate wet areas and can often be found on the edge of bush and wetlands.

Once established, they have considerable drought tolerance and also have been found to be tolerant of freezing. In the test, 50% damage to leaves was reported at −0.6 °C (30.9 °F). Technically, H. salicifolia has closed vegetative buds, which could give protection from frost by covering the vulnerable apex, and only open when fully grown. However, Dallimore (1913) pointed that most Hebe is only specialized in habitats similar to New Zealand. Hebe may not be hardy except when grown in the southern and western countries of England, the west of Scotland, Ireland and various islands off the west coast of Britain.

Where it grows

Veronica salicifolia is found in Chile, the South Island of New Zealand, as well as the Stewart and Auckland Islands. It has also been recorded as naturalised in Europe. As a form expressing a wide diversity in ecology and morphology, it inhabits regions from coastal margins to alpine regions up to 2,800 metres (9,200 ft) above sea level, which is regarded to be the highest place for a flowering plant in New Zealand.

Other Veronica plants

Veronica sect. Hebe · Veronica Recurva · American speedwell · Water speedwell · Corn speedwell · Broadleaf speedwell · European speedwell · Fiordland Parahebe · Pink Water-speedwell · Ash Coloured Speedwell · Dillenius' speedwell · Silver Speedwell