Hebe Hybrid 'Marie Antoinette'
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Marie Antoinette Hebe / Marie Antoinette
Botanical Name: Hebe hybrid 'Marie Antoinette'
Family: Plantaginaceae
Origin: New Zealand
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Overview
A compact, bushy evergreen hebe prized for its glossy mid-green foliage (new growth flushed burgundy) and long flower show. Short spikes open pink-purple and fade to soft white, bringing bee-friendly colour from late winter through spring and into summer in South Australia. Tough, low-care and excellent for borders, low hedging and pots; also copes with coastal conditions.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 0.6–1.0 m high x 0.6–1.0 m wide
- Growth Rate: 10-30 cm per year under good conditions
- Foliage: Glossy mid-green; new growth often burgundy/purple in cooler months
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Flowers: Pink to purple buds aging to white; main flush spring–summer, with spot colour into autumn
- Seasonal Interest: Evergreen structure with a long flower season
- Wildlife Value: Nectar-rich; attractive to bees and other pollinators
- Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established; light frost (approx. –5 °C) and coastal-tolerant with shelter
- Planting Density: Low hedge: 2 plants per metre (50 cm apart) for a tight finish; 1/m for looser. Mass plant 70–90 cm apart (~3/m²)
- Pet Friendly: Generally regarded as non-toxic; supervise pets as with any plant
Where It Works Best
- Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
- Soil: Well-drained loam or sandy loam; avoid waterlogging.
- Water Needs: Establishment: deep soak 2×/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak weekly in summer; monthly in winter if dry
- Maintenance: Mulch in spring; light trim after flowering to keep a dense, rounded shape; light organic feed in early spring
- Lifespan: 10–15+ years with basic care
- Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal areas
- Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Privacy screening and boundary edges at knee-to-waist height with a refined finish
- Mass plant for cohesive ground-level structure and low maintenance
- Feature near entries, paths and outdoor living spaces; excellent in large pots for year-round colour
Why You Will Love It
Fast, tidy and dependable with colour for months. ‘Marie Antoinette’ brings compact evergreen structure, a long pink-to-white flower show, pollinator support and true low-care performance in Adelaide’s climate—great value for borders, low hedges and containers.