Plant identification and advice please

ellieloughlin

Hi all, 

I'm giving the rockery in our newish house some tlc after many years. Could you tell me what this is please? I liked the flowers it had on it but its very leggy so do I just cut it back in the autumn?

Many thanks 

Liriodendron

I'm wondering if it's a veronica, maybe V.umbrosa, but I don't know it personally.  Maybe @Silver surfer will have a view... if it is, you cut it hard back in autumn.

Borderline

I think that’s Parahebe Catarractae ‘Porkock’.

Silver surfer

I was coming to same conclusion...Parahebe but you beat me to it Borderline!
  eg Parahebe cataractae delight????  or similar.
Common name Waterfall Parahebe 

Quote RHS....

"Parahebe catarractae is an evergreen subshrub to 30cm high with lance-shaped dark green leaves to 4cm long, tinged purple when young. Racemes of saucer-shaped purple-veined white flowers 1cm across with red eyes are borne in summer."

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/12299/Parahebe-catarractae/Details

https://www.google.com/search?q=Parahebe+&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiY3tHkxaDqAhVR1eAKHRAdC6IQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Parahebe+&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAA6BggAEAoQGDoECAAQGDoGCAAQCBAeUOK8Ali1ygJg5OUCaABwAHgAgAFuiAHCB5IBBDEwLjGYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZw&sclient=img&ei=yXj2XtjVLdGqgweQuqyQCg&bih=938&biw=1920&client=firefox-b-d#imgrc=bRUhIhYi-qihvM

ellieloughlin

Ah thank you! Actually I did find a label saying that on nearby but dismissed it as the description said white flowers. Do you know how I should look after it? It had lots of lovely flowers this year but it is quite leggy as its been hidden under other stuff (or maybe its just meant to be like that!).

Thanks again 

Ellie 

Borderline

The plant grows more like that if you don't cut them back, they tend to sprawl around and they are fine like that. But, if you want to cut them back that's fine too. Keeps them more upright and more clump forming. Especially after the flowers have finished, it's good to prune them down, a second flush and new leaves will form.

If you have a lot of taller neighbouring plants around it, they will try to search for the sun, and you may find you have less flowers. They grow best in full sun. 

Fairygirl

Lovely little plants, Parahebes. I keep meaning to get some again 
@Borderline is right - a more open position will benefit it in terms of flowering. 

ellieloughlin

Thanks borderline! It's got quite a lot of space around it now actually, although I'd say it's probably more in partial shade due to some trees. Seems happy though. So I could cut it all the way back to the base now?

Thanks again 

Borderline

Yes, you can do that now. They tend to have an early summer flowering flush, and if you cut them down now, not only will this allow them time to grow back new fresh leaves, but highly likely to produce a second flush after that.

ellieloughlin

That's great thank you, I'll do that once the storm has passed!