The Maori name koromiko is generally used for members of the Hebe genus which includes over 80 species adapted to a range of habitats while countless hybrids and cultivars are popular garden plants. A range of natural wild species occur in Taranaki in alpine, lowland and coastal locations. 

We have been propagating two coastal Hebe species for some time now. The Hebe speciosa plants in our school gardens came from two plants grown from cuttings originally sourced from North Taranaki (Mokau) while the Hebe elliptica plants came from cuttings collected from South Taranaki (Manaia). We have propagated around 850 Hebe speciosa and Hebe Elliptica plants at Moturoa School. The plants have been used for the TRC which have been used in a habitat restoration programme at the Rapanui Petrel colony. We have grown considerably more Hebe elliptica plants which have been mainly used by NPDC in a range of city reserves and gardens including at Paritutu‐Centennial Park.