Veronica haastii. (Syn Hebe haastii)
Veronica haastii is named after Sir Julius von Haast a famous early geologist who first collected it and later became Director of the Canterbury Museum.
This attractive trailing, spreading shrub only grows up to about 20cm tall with its twisted red brown or purplish green leaves and distinct internodes makes an interesting find on the mountains. The leaves are fleshy rounded, hollow spoon shaped and just roundly toothed. All the leaves are in four distinct rows with their broad bases (petioles) joining together with the opposite leaves.
The leaves are more closely clustered together at the branch tips where in summer white flowers appear on many short stalks.
It is closely related to Veronica (Hebe) epacridea but has larger spoon shaped leaves and more red brown colouring on the leaves.
It can be found in the South Island from Marlborough to South Canterbury on shingle scree slopes, rock debris or crevasses in alpine areas.
Growing this at home will require special conditions namely an extremely well drained rocky shingly medium and because of that regular watering or else the mix will be totally dry.
Veronica (formally Hebe for NZ plants) is a very diverse genus in New Zealand with large tree like plants as the largest and small alpine plants the smallest and most exquisite. The genus is characterised by leaves in opposite pairs which vary from long lanceolate shapes to small even tiny leaves pressed onto the stems resembling conifers.
NZ has between 80 – 100 species and many cultivars and varieties suitable for all types of gardening or just photography.
This attractive trailing, spreading shrub only grows up to about 20cm tall with its twisted red brown or purplish green leaves and distinct internodes makes an interesting find on the mountains. The leaves are fleshy rounded, hollow spoon shaped and just roundly toothed. All the leaves are in four distinct rows with their broad bases (petioles) joining together with the opposite leaves.
The leaves are more closely clustered together at the branch tips where in summer white flowers appear on many short stalks.
It is closely related to Veronica (Hebe) epacridea but has larger spoon shaped leaves and more red brown colouring on the leaves.
It can be found in the South Island from Marlborough to South Canterbury on shingle scree slopes, rock debris or crevasses in alpine areas.
Growing this at home will require special conditions namely an extremely well drained rocky shingly medium and because of that regular watering or else the mix will be totally dry.
Veronica (formally Hebe for NZ plants) is a very diverse genus in New Zealand with large tree like plants as the largest and small alpine plants the smallest and most exquisite. The genus is characterised by leaves in opposite pairs which vary from long lanceolate shapes to small even tiny leaves pressed onto the stems resembling conifers.
NZ has between 80 – 100 species and many cultivars and varieties suitable for all types of gardening or just photography.