Snow sheds from its back. Alpine Hebe (Veronica subalpina) is a compact, rounded shrub. It thrives in the harsh conditions of the alpine zone. A plant that grows where the wind never stops. It has small, glossy, green leaves. They are densely packed along the stems. They form a tight, rounded bush. The leaves are oval-shaped. Up to 1.5 centimetres long. They have a smooth, shiny surface. The stems are stout and woody. They branch frequently. This creates a dense, compact shape. A plant that hugs itself for warmth. The plant produces masses of white or pale lilac flowers in summer. The flowers are small but numerous. They cover the shrub in a soft, pastel blanket. They are attractive to native bees and other alpine insects. The flowers are followed by small capsules containing the seeds. A plant that blooms when the snow melts. Alpine Hebe is extremely cold-hardy. It tolerates heavy frost and snow. It grows in alpine and subalpine grasslands. You find it on rocky slopes and in herbfields. Often in the most exposed sites. The compact, rounded shape helps the plant shed snow. This prevents damage. The small, glossy leaves reduce water loss. They protect against intense sunlight. A plant that has learned to survive. The species provides important habitat for alpine insects and lizards. The dense, rounded shrubs offer shelter from wind and cold. The flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies. The seeds are eaten by birds. To find Alpine Hebe is to climb the mountains of the South Island. Look for the compact, rounded bushes of glossy green leaves. Look for the masses of white or pale lilac flowers. The mountain is cold. The wind blows. The hebe sits, rounded and compact. Leaves are glossy. Flowers are pale. The snow comes. The hebe sheds it. The sun comes. The hebe blooms. It does not complain about the cold. It does not complain about the wind. It just grows. That is what it was made to do.