Hibbertia devitata
smooth guinea-flower
Overview
Hibbertia devitata is a small evergreen shrub in the family Dilleniaceae, growing 12-39 inches (30-100 cm) tall and wide with a rounded to spreading outline. The slender stems carry narrow, smooth, hairless leaves 0.2-0.8 inch (5-20 mm) long, the smooth surfaces giving the plant its common name. From late winter through spring the shrub produces yellow five-petalled flowers about 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) across, opening singly along the stems, each with notched petals and a central cluster of stamens. The flowers open through the day and are followed by small dry fruits. Hibbertia devitata grows on sandy and gravelly soils in heath and open woodland in south-western Western Australia and tolerates drought and poor ground once established. It is sensitive to wet, poorly drained soils and to hard frost. The low, rounded habit and bright spring flowers suit it to rockeries and the front of native plantings, though individual flowers are short-lived.
Native Range
Hibbertia devitata is native to south-western Western Australia, where it grows in heath, shrubland, and open woodland on sandy and gravelly soils.Suggested Uses
Used in rockeries, gravel gardens, and the front of low-water native plantings on free-draining soils. The low, rounded habit and yellow spring flowers suit massed groundcover-style planting and container display.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'3"
Width/Spread1' - 3'3"
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly from late winter through spring, around August to November in its native range. The bright yellow five-petalled flowers open individually along the stems, each lasting a day or two, with new flowers continuing the display over many weeks. Small dry fruits follow.
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
Grow Hibbertia devitata in full sun to light shade on sandy or gravelly, sharply drained soil that is low in nutrients. It withstands drought and exposed positions once established and tolerates light frost. Water lightly during establishment, then sparingly, as it is prone to root rot in wet or heavy ground. Use low-phosphorus native fertiliser sparingly, if at all, on these lean soils. Light pruning after flowering keeps the shrub compact. Growth is moderate, and plants are longer-lived on free-draining sites.Pruning
Light tip pruning after flowering keeps the shrub dense and rounded and removes spent flowering stems. It tolerates trimming into leafy wood but is poorly served by hard cutting into bare old wood. Removing dead growth in spring keeps the plant tidy.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons