Woody rhizomatous herb or shrub to about 1 m tall, dying back each year. Leaves ovate, to about 5 cm long, 4 cm wide, waxy-grey, tip pointed and the bases of the opposite leaves sometimes fused together, stalkless, the margins entire or with a few small teeth mainly in the lower half, veins spreading from the base. Flower clusters mostly 10-40 cm long. Flowers about 1 cm long, blue to violet; summer. Fruit capsule ovoid, slightly flattened, to about 8 mm long. [Parahebe perfoliata (R. Br.) B. Briggs & Ehrend.]

NSW, Vic

 

D. derwentiana (Andrews) B. Briggs & Ehrend., Derwent Speedwell, from S and E Australia is occasionally offered; it has leaves with numerous small teeth along the margin and white or pale lilac-blue flowers. [Parahebe derwentiana (Andrews) B. Briggs & Ehrend.]

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Scrophulariaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press. (as Derwentia perfoliata)