Veronica (Heliohebe) hulkeana

Strikingly handsome long lavendar flower spikes set against beautiful glossy purple-green foliage. Spreading shrub from the rocky windswept Seaward Kaikoura Ranges.  Height 60cm, plus flower panicles, spread up to 1.5m  Sun or part sun. Easy in relatively moist soil but also very hardy. A wonderful massed planting under interesting tree trunks on a bank was an inspiring use of this gorgeous plant. Looks lovely spilling over paving. 

Laid out cut flower image info: First bloom is a real species lilac, 2 is a species Heliohebe haulkeana or now more correctly veronica , 4 is a 'Hagley' cultivar, 5 is Lester's cultivar, 6 is V. lavaudiana, 7 is a species V. raoulii.  Fairfieldii  is another one I have but is missing from the lineup. Any more out there? Small plants.

In the vase line up, this one is the last on the right