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Goodenia rotundifolia

star goodenia

Goodeniaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Goodenia rotundifolia is a low, spreading evergreen perennial herb growing 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) tall and spreading 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) wide, forming a loose ground-hugging mat. The rounded to broadly oval basal leaves are 0.6-1.6 inches (15-40 mm) long, soft, slightly hairy, and held on short stalks close to the ground. Slender flowering stems rise above the foliage carrying yellow, five-lobed flowers about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across, each lobe with a winged margin that gives a star-like outline. Flowering occurs mainly in spring and summer. The flowers open in succession over many weeks. Growth is rapid in warm weather, with plants spreading by trailing stems that root where they touch moist soil. Foliage can brown off in dry spells and regrow after rain. Plants are short-lived but self-seed readily, maintaining colonies over time.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, mainly Queensland and New South Wales, extending into central inland districts. Grows in open woodland, grassland, and disturbed roadsides on sandy, loam, and clay soils that are seasonally moist.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a native groundcover in rockeries, garden edges, and informal beds, spaced 12-16 inches (30-40 cm) apart. Used for low, spreading cover on sunny banks and in revegetation of disturbed ground. The short lifespan is offset by ready self-seeding.

How to Identify

Recognized by rounded, soft basal leaves forming a low mat and yellow five-lobed flowers with winged, star-shaped lobes held on thin stems above the foliage. Flowers are 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across. The rounded leaves separate it from Goodenia hederacea, which has more elongated, lobed leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 1'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers chiefly from spring through summer, roughly September to February, with scattered flowering after rain in other seasons. Individual flowers last a few days, and the succession of blooms extends over 10-14 weeks. Flowering slows during cold or very dry periods.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade in a range of soils, from sand to clay, that hold some moisture in the growing season. Established plants tolerate short dry spells, dying back to the rootstock and reshooting after rain. Regular moisture extends flowering and keeps the foliage dense. Root rot can develop in permanently wet soils. Plants are short-lived but renew colonies through self-seeding and rooting stems.

Pruning

Trimming back over-long trailing stems during the growing season keeps the mat dense. Light shearing after a flowering flush encourages fresh growth and renewed bloom. Old, woody centres can be cut out to make room for self-sown seedlings.

Pruning Schedule

summer