Goodia lotifolia
clover-leaved poison
Overview
Goodia lotifolia is an erect to spreading evergreen shrub in the pea family, reaching 3-10 feet (1-3 m) tall and 3-8 feet (1-2.5 m) wide. The compound leaves are divided into three oval to wedge-shaped leaflets 0.4-1.2 inches (1-3 cm) long, blue-green above and paler beneath, giving a clover-like look. Pea-shaped flowers about 0.4 inch (1 cm) long appear in loose sprays at the branch tips, yellow with red-brown markings at the centre, opening in spring. Flat oblong pods 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) long follow, ripening brown and splitting to release several seeds. Growth is fast, with plants reaching full size within two to three years, and the shrub tends to be short-lived, often declining after five to eight years. It suckers and self-seeds, forming thickets on disturbed ground. All parts contain toxic alkaloids that affect grazing livestock.
Native Range
Native to south-eastern Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, with scattered occurrences in Western Australia. It grows in open forest, woodland, and along watercourses, often colonising disturbed and recently burnt ground.Suggested Uses
Used in native gardens, revegetation, and screening plantings on disturbed sites, spaced 5-8 feet (1.5-2.5 m) apart. Its fast growth suits quick cover while slower shrubs establish. The toxic foliage makes it unsuited to paddocks grazed by livestock.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 10'
Width/Spread3' - 8'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly in spring (September to November), with scattered flowering at other times after rain or fire. Individual sprays open over two to three weeks. Pods ripen through late spring and summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow with red-brown markingsFoliage Description
blue-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-8 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade on most freely draining soils, including sandy and clay loams. Fast to establish, it needs regular water only through the first season and then tolerates extended dry periods. Plants are short-lived, often declining after five to eight years, and are renewed from self-sown seedlings or suckers. Hard frost and prolonged waterlogging shorten plant life. All parts contain toxic alkaloids, and livestock losses have been recorded from grazing the foliage. Few pests affect it, though it spreads into surrounding ground from seed and root suckers.Pruning
Light pruning after flowering keeps the shrub bushy and slows the open, leggy growth that develops with age. The plant reshoots from cut stems and from the base. Removing root suckers limits unwanted spread into nearby beds.Pruning Schedule
J
F
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A
M
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J
A
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O
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late springsummer