Goodenia hederacea
ivy goodenia
Overview
Goodenia hederacea is a perennial herb with creeping stems that root at the nodes and spread across the ground, sending up flowering shoots 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) tall. The leaves are oval to lance-shaped, 0.8-2.4 inches (2-6 cm) long, with toothed margins, scattered along the trailing stems. Yellow five-lobed flowers about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across open singly on slender stalks through spring and summer, the lower lobes winged in the fan shape of the family. Small capsules follow, splitting to release flattened seeds. Stems root where they touch moist soil, knitting into a loose mat. The plant grows in open forest and grassland on well-drained soils and dies back in drought, reshooting from the rootstock and rooted nodes after rain. Two forms occur, one trailing and one more upright, differing in leaf shape and stem length.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria. Grows in open eucalypt forest, woodland, and grassland on well-drained sandy and loamy soils.Suggested Uses
Grown as a low groundcover in native and rockery plantings on well-drained soil, spaced about 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart to knit into a mat. Used on banks where rooting stems bind the soil. Spreads by rooting stems and self-sown seed into surrounding ground.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-9 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade on free-draining sandy or loamy soil at a pH of about 5.5-7.0. Tolerates dry spells once established by dying back and reshooting from rooted nodes and the rootstock. Needs occasional water through extended drought to stay in leaf. Stems root where they touch moist soil and the plant widens into a loose mat. Snails graze soft new growth in wet weather. Grows poorly in heavy, wet soils, where the roots rot.Pruning
Trim back trailing stems after flowering to contain the mat and tidy the plant. Cut spent flower stalks to limit self-seeding. The plant reshoots from rooted nodes and the rootstock after rain.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons