"Small Red Robin" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a hebe ( I think its a hebe) in a container. I love the plant,
but all the new growth appears at the end of the stems and I can now
see long bare legs under the green skirt - not the greatest look on a
hebe. I assume it needs pruning to get growth appearing lower down, but
haven't ever done so because I'm not sure how, how much to take off, at
what point etc. I'd like to try and do something. Your advice would be
appreciated.

Picture available he
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27556987@N00/138218077/

Is it a hebe?
Many thanks.

Yes its a hebe :~)
http://www.humeseeds.com/efhebe.htm

AlanT says this:
Hebe
Hebes, such as Hebe speciosa, H. macrantha and H. salicifolia, can be
damaged by cold winds and low temperatures in winter. Although they require
little routine pruning, it is worth removing any dead or frost-damaged
growth in April. Well-established shrubs that are outgrowing their allotted
space can be reduced in size by cutting back overly long stems to a new
sideshoot lower down. Large-leaved hebes grown for their flowers, such as
'Autumn Beauty', 'Midsummer Beauty', 'Great Orme' and 'Marjorie' can be kept
neat and flowering well by pruning now. Cut back all stems to within 15cm
(6in) of ground level every other year or, if this is too drastic for you,
and on older plants which may not take kindly to such hard pruning, cut back
one-in-three stems starting with the oldest. Variegated hebes that produce
all-green reverted shoots, should have these pruned out completely.

HTH Jenny