Hibbertia obtusifolia
grey guinea flower
Overview
Hibbertia obtusifolia is a small evergreen shrub reaching 8-32 inches (20-80 cm) tall and 12-40 inches (30-100 cm) wide, with an erect to spreading, sometimes straggling habit. Stems are slender and woody, bearing alternate, oblong to wedge-shaped leaves 0.2-1 inch (5-25 mm) long with blunt or notched tips and short stalks; the foliage is grey-green to mid green, sometimes with rolled or wavy margins. Flowers are yellow, 0.6-1.2 inches (1.5-3 cm) across, with five broad, slightly notched petals and numerous central stamens, borne singly on short stalks at the branch tips. Flowering is heaviest in spring and continues into summer. The flowers open in sunshine and last about a day each, replaced over a period of weeks. The fruit is a small dry capsule that splits to release seeds bearing a fleshy appendage. The shrub regenerates from a woody base after fire and grows in open forest and heath. Its form varies across its range from low and compact to taller and more open.
Native Range
Hibbertia obtusifolia is native to eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory to Victoria. It grows in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland, and heathland on sandy and gravelly well-drained soils, from coastal lowlands to the tablelands.Suggested Uses
Hibbertia obtusifolia is grown in native and low-water gardens, rockeries, and informal borders, and as a low groundcover on banks, spaced 16-24 inches (40-60 cm) apart. It suits sandy coastal and woodland-style plantings. It grows in containers of at least 3 gallons (11 L) with a free-draining native potting mix.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'8"
Width/Spread1' - 3'4"
Bloom Information
Flowering peaks in spring (September to November) and extends into summer in cooler districts. Individual flowers open in full sun and last about a single day, with new buds opening in succession over several weeks. Cloudy weather reduces the number of open flowers on any given day.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
grey-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
Hibbertia obtusifolia grows in full sun to part shade in light, well-drained sandy or gravelly soil of low fertility. Established plants tolerate dry periods and light frost, while prolonged waterlogging causes root rot. It accepts the low-phosphorus conditions typical of Australian native gardens and can decline where phosphorus-rich fertilisers are used. Light watering through the first summer aids establishment, after which supplementary water is needed only in extended drought. Plants are short-lived, persisting about 5-10 years, and are renewed from seed or cuttings. Few pests affect it.Pruning
Light trimming after the main flush of flowering maintains a compact shape and limits the straggly growth that develops with age. The shrub responds to pruning into younger wood but recovers slowly from cuts into old bare stems. Annual light shaping prolongs the dense form.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons