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Hibbertia scandens
climbing guinea flower
Overview
Hibbertia scandens, the climbing guinea flower or snake vine, is an evergreen climbing and scrambling vine in the family Dilleniaceae native to coastal eastern Australia. Twining reddish stems reach 6-16 feet (2-5 m) through shrubs and over fences, or trail along the ground as a sprawling cover when no support is present. The thick, glossy dark green leaves are 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long, with silky hairs on the undersides and edges that may roll under. Bright yellow open flowers 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm) across appear singly along the stems through the warmer months, each with five broad petals around a central tuft of stamens, and give off a scent some find unpleasant. The flowers are followed by fleshy capsules that split to show seeds in a red, fleshy coat. The species grows on coastal dunes, headlands, and forest margins on sandy soils, tolerating salt wind and dry spells. Its vigorous, smothering growth can overwhelm small shrubs if left unmanaged.
Native Range
Hibbertia scandens is native to coastal eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales into eastern Victoria. It grows on sand dunes, headlands, heath, and the margins of coastal forest, often scrambling over other vegetation.Suggested Uses
Grown on trellises, fences, banks, and as a sprawling groundcover in coastal and frost-free gardens. Suited to sandy seaside sites and erosion control on dunes and slopes. Spaced 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) apart along a support or over a bank.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 16'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Bloom Information
Flowering extends over a long season through the warmer months, mainly September to March, with large yellow flowers opening one or two at a time along the stems. Each bloom lasts a day or two and carries a strong scent. Native bees gather pollen from the central stamen tuft.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
glossy dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 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 freely draining sandy or loamy soils, and tolerates coastal salt wind. Even moisture supports lush growth and flowering, though established plants handle dry spells well. The vine climbs by twining and needs a trellis, fence, or host shrub for upright growth, or spreads as a groundcover over open soil. Light feeding in spring and a layer of mulch sustain the glossy foliage. Frost cuts back soft growth in cold districts, where the plant grows poorly outside mild coastal areas. Periodic thinning keeps its vigorous stems from smothering nearby plants.Pruning
Stems can be shortened or thinned at any time during active growth to control spread and keep the vine within its support. Cutting back hard in early spring renews tangled or frost-damaged growth, and the plant reshoots freely. Trailing stems that root along the ground can be trimmed to limit spread.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 7 gallons