Hebe stricta (koromiko) is a fast-growing New Zealand native shrub commonly found along forest edges, riverbanks, and coastal areas, typically growing between 1 and 4 metres tall with narrow green leaves and white to pale lilac flower spikes that bloom through summer and autumn. It is valued for revegetation, erosion control, shelter planting, and native gardens because it tolerates wind, wet soils, and coastal conditions well while also attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Koromiko has a long history in Māori rongoā, where young leaf tips were traditionally used to help treat stomach upsets and diarrhoea, and several closely related species, including Hebe salicifolia and Hebe stricta, are also commonly known by the name koromiko.
