Veronica albicans
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2025}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Hebe albicans.jpg
| parent = Veronica sect. Hebe
| taxon = Veronica albicans
| synonyms =
{{Species list
|Hebe albicans|(Petrie) Cockayne
}}
}}
Veronica albicans, synonym Hebe albicans, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae, native to New Zealand.{{citation |title=Veronica albicans Petrie |work=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:811585-1 |access-date=2022-10-09 }}
Description
Growing to {{convert|60|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall by {{convert|90|cm|0|abbr=on}} wide, it is an evergreen shrub with thick bluish leaves {{convert|1.5|-|3|cm|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|8|-|15|mm|abbr=on}} wide.{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}} The small white flowers, on flowerheads {{convert|3|-|6|cm}} in length, appear from December to April. The Latin specific epithet albicans means "off-white", referring to the colour of the flowers.{{cite book|last=Harrison|first=Lorraine|title=RHS Latin for gardeners|year=2012|publisher=Mitchell Beazley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=9781845337315|pages=224}}
Distribution and habitat
V. albicans is found in the mountainous region around Nelson, New Zealand, at an altitude of {{convert|1000|-|1400|m}}. A closely related species, Veronica amplexicaulis, is found in a similar habitat in Canterbury.A Field Guide to the Native Plants of New Zealand by John T. Salmon
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Hebe albicans|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/8304/Hebe-albicans/Details | access-date = 5 July 2020}} Hardy down to {{convert| -5|C|F|abbr=on}}, it requires a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade.
References
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{{Taxonbar|from1=Q17743543|from2=Q9297519}}
Category:Plants described in 1916
{{Plantaginaceae-stub}}
{{NewZealand-plant-stub}}