Hibbertia aspera
rough guinea flower
Overview
Hibbertia aspera is an evergreen shrub with a low, spreading to scrambling habit, reaching 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall and spreading 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) wide. Stems are slender and wiry, often trailing over the ground or through nearby vegetation. Leaves are alternate, narrow to oblong, 0.2-1 inch (5-25 mm) long, dark green, with a rough, sandpapery upper surface and slightly inrolled margins that give the species its name. Yellow flowers 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) across open singly along the stems, each with five notched petals around a central cluster of stamens. Flowering occurs mainly in spring and early summer. The plant grows at a moderate rate and forms a loose, open framework rather than a dense mound. It resprouts from a woody base after fire in its native habitat. It tolerates exposed coastal sites and sandy soils but is short-lived on heavy, poorly drained ground. Foliage is damaged by hard frost below about 28°F (-2°C).
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest, heathland, and coastal scrub, usually in sandy or rocky, well-drained soils from sea level to about 3,000 feet (900 m).Suggested Uses
Used as a low groundcover or scrambling filler in native, coastal, and rockery plantings, spaced 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart. Suited to sandy banks and informal borders where the trailing stems can spread. Grows in containers of at least 3 gallons (11 L) with a free-draining mix.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly from September to December in its native range, corresponding to spring and early summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Scattered flowers can appear at other times in mild conditions. Individual flowers last one to two days, opening in sequence over a bloom period of several weeks.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 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 light shade in sandy or gravelly, well-drained soil. Water moderately while establishing; established plants tolerate dry periods and short drought. Performs poorly in heavy clay or waterlogged ground, where roots are prone to rot. Few pests affect it, though scale insects occur occasionally. It can be propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings, which root over several weeks. In cultivation it is grown in zones 9-10 and treated as a container plant in colder areas.Pruning
Trim lightly after flowering to maintain a compact framework and encourage branching. Old leafless wood is slow to reshoot, so pruning is kept within the current season growth. Plants tolerate removal of up to one-third of the season stems.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons