10.5cm pot (a 2 litre pot is also available).

Hebe ‘Emerald Green’ is a particularly neat, compact evergreen hebe. The RHS also lists it under the names ‘Emerald Gem’, ‘Emerald Dome’ and ‘Green Globe’.

It is an excellent choice for pots, edging, rockeries and the front of borders, particularly where you want something that stays tidy throughout the year for a clean cut modern look. Winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, which guarantees that this shrub is a high-performance beauty in the garden.

Key features

• Evergreen: Keeps its small, dark-green leaves all year.

• Compact and rounded: Naturally forms a dense, dome-shaped bush.

• Size: Around 30cm high and wide when established.

• Flowers: Small white flowers appear sparsely in summer.

• Hardiness: H4, meaning it is hardy through most of the UK, roughly down to -10°C to -5°C.

• Drought tolerant: Once established, it has good drought resistance.

• Pollinator friendly: The flowers of hebes are attractive to bees and other pollinators.

Position:
Best in full sun, although it will tolerate partial shade. A sheltered position is preferable, particularly away from cold, drying winds.

Soil:
It isn't particularly fussy about soil type, but good drainage is important. It will tolerate chalk, clay, loam and sandy soils provided they don't remain waterlogged.

Watering:
Water regularly after planting until established. After that, it is relatively drought tolerant, although plants in pots will need more frequent watering.

Pruning:
It naturally forms a neat shape, so little pruning is needed. If necessary, lightly trim after flowering to maintain its rounded shape. Avoid cutting hard into old woody stems, as hebes don't always regenerate from them.

This is one of the better small evergreen hebes for patio/containers. Its compact shape means it looks good even when young, and it provides year-round interest rather than just a short flowering period.

It also works very well with: Lavender, Carex grasses, Festuca, Small euphorbias, Heucheras, Skimmia and Cyclamen for autumn/winter displays.