Goodenia bellidifolia (Daisy-leaved Goodenia)

1 / 11

Goodenia spp.

goodenias

Goodeniaceae

Australia, with a few species in Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Goodenia spp. is a genus of about 200 species in the family Goodeniaceae, predominantly Australian herbs and small shrubs with a few members reaching Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The flowers are five-lobed and split down one side so that all the lobes turn to the lower lip, a fan-like form shared with the related Scaevola spp., and most are yellow, though some are blue, purple, or white. Growth habit ranges from flat, prostrate groundcover to erect subshrubs near 5 feet (150 cm), with simple leaves that may be toothed, lobed, or held in a basal rosette. Plants flower over a long season, with flushes following rain in milder climates. Most species grow in open, sunny, free-draining sites on sandy or gravelly ground. As largely frost-tender plants of warm and Mediterranean climates, many Goodenia spp. species are short-lived and decline in heavy, wet, or shaded soils.

Native Range

Native mainly to Australia, where the genus is widespread across most states, with a small number of species extending to Southeast Asia and Pacific islands. Plants grow in heath, woodland, grassland, and coastal sand.

Suggested Uses

Grown as groundcover, in rockeries, and in coastal or dry gardens, as well as in containers and hanging baskets. The prostrate species spill over walls and banks, while the upright kinds suit mixed sunny borders.

How to Identify

Plants carry five-lobed tubular flowers that split along one side so all the lobes face downward, usually yellow and often with hairy or winged throats. Leaves are simple and may be toothed or lobed, set in a basal rosette or spaced along the stems. Small dry capsules follow the flowers. The fan-shaped, one-sided corolla separates Goodenia spp. from most other yellow-flowered groundcovers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 5'

Width/Spread8" - 3'4"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Flowering runs mainly through spring and summer, with extra flushes after rain in mild climates. Individual plants may carry their yellow fan-shaped flowers over many weeks, held singly or in leafy clusters at the stem tips.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow, sometimes blue, purple, or white

Foliage Description

green to grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1-2 years to flowering size

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Goodenia spp. grows in full sun and sharp drainage, in sandy, gravelly, or low-fertility soil. Most species are drought tolerant once established and resent heavy, wet ground. They are frost tender, hardy roughly to USDA zone 9, and are grown as annuals or container plants in colder areas. Light feeding suits them, as rich soil produces lax growth. The prostrate species root along the stems and spread to form low mats.

Pruning

A light trim after the main flush keeps plants compact and prompts fresh growth. Dead stems are removed in spring. Prostrate species can be cut back at the edges to contain their spread.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 2 gallons

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic