have been feeding on nectar of Veronica spp. The New Zealand endemic moth Scoparia rotuella is known to pollinate this species. As shown in the laboratory test, its flowers significantly increased the fitness of female butterflies. The Australasian green shield bugs often sit their egg shells on a wide variety of native and naturalised trees and shrubs including Koromiko. Adults and juveniles of Australasian green shield bugs feed by inserting a stylet into the plant and then suck plant sap and berries. As for diseases, leaf spot and downy mildew may occur in poor condition. Taxonomy Veronica salicifolia is thought to be one of the first New Zealand hebe species to be described by the English during Captain Cook's second voyage in 1773, by botanist Georg Forster and his father Johann. Hebes found up North in the Waitākere Ranges were once mistaken for it due to their similar white and violet flowers, these are now distinguished as separate locally endemic Hebe. Cultivation Veronica salicifolia is a hardy plant but isn't tolerant of shade and needs to be in grown in full sun and in a sheltered area with a well drained soil. It can, however, tolerate wet areas and can often be found on the edge of bush and wetlands. Once established, they have considerable drought tolerance and also have been found to be tolerant of freezing. In the test, 50% damage to leaves was reported at -0.6 °C.Technically, H. salicifolia has closed vegetative buds, which could give protection from frost by covering the vulnerable apex, and only open when fully grown. However, Dallimore (1913) pointed that most Hebe is only specialized in habitats similar to New Zealand. Hebe may not be hardy except when grown in the southern and western countries of England, the west of Scotland, Ireland and various islands off the west coast of Britain. In Māori culture Before the English conquest, the Māori had been utilizing the plants medicinal properties for centuries. The leaves were chewed to help cure diarrhoea and applied to the skin to aid ulcers and wounds. Koromiko is the general name for the hebes in the Māori language and is shared over a range of New Zealand Hebe species such as the shore koromiko (Veronica elliptica) and varnished koromiko (Veronica vernicosa), for example. References GBIF entry Hebe Society entry Rhodora 23:39. 1921. Allan, H. H. B. et al. 1961–. Flora of New