It is a large, evergreen shrub, reaching 2 m in height, with light-green, spear-shaped leaves that are up to 12 cm long, and white or pale lilac flowers.

[5] V. salicifolia is one of the larger hebe species, its woody structure allowing it to grow to around one to five meters tall and it can have quite a wide spread foliage.

[4] Its narrow, oblong shaped leaves are oppositely arranged and are a dark to yellowish green colour, they also have hairs situated on the mid rib of the leaf.

[9] The Australasian green shield bugs often sit their egg shells on a wide variety of native and naturalised trees and shrubs including Koromiko.

[11] 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.

[5] 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.

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.