Hibbertia sericea
silky guinea-flower
Overview
Hibbertia sericea is a small shrub growing 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) tall with a spreading to weakly erect habit and slender, often hairy stems. Leaves are narrow, linear to narrowly oblong, 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) long and 0.04-0.08 inch (1-2 mm) wide, with margins rolled under and a covering of silky, appressed hairs that give the foliage a grey-green, silvery sheen, denser on the lower surface. Flowers are borne singly at the stem tips, 0.4-0.8 inch (10-20 mm) across, with five yellow petals notched at the tip and 15-35 stamens arranged around the central ovary. The five sepals are also hairy. Flowering occurs mainly in spring. Fruit is a small dry follicle releasing few seeds. The plant grows on a woody base and resprouts after fire in many populations. Growth is slow to moderate, and individual plants are short-lived shrubs of open, sunny sites. Foliage colour varies from green to silver-grey depending on hair density, which differs between regional forms.
Native Range
Native to south-eastern Australia, occurring in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. Grows in heathland, dry sclerophyll forest, and coastal scrub, usually on sandy or gravelly, low-nutrient soils from the coast to the tablelands.Suggested Uses
Grown in native cottage gardens, rockeries, and low-water borders, spaced 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) apart. Suited to coastal and sandy-soil gardens and to containers of at least 2 gallons (8 L) with free-draining, low-phosphorus mix. Used on embankments and in heath-style plantings for low ground cover.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly from August to December, peaking in spring. Individual flowers open for one to two days, and a plant produces a succession of flowers over 4-8 weeks. Flowering is heavier in open, sunny positions and lighter under shade or in seasons of low rainfall.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
grey-green to silverGrowing 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
Grows in full sun to light shade on free-draining sandy or gravelly soils low in phosphorus. Established plants tolerate extended dry periods and short frosts; waterlogging and rich, fertilised soils cause root decline. Watering through the first summer aids establishment, after which supplementary water is rarely required. Like many Hibbertia spp., it is sensitive to phosphorus, and standard phosphate fertilisers can damage the roots. Plants are short-lived, persisting 5-10 years, and in fire-prone habitats resprout from the base or regenerate from seed.Pruning
Light tip pruning after flowering keeps the plant compact and encourages branching. Cutting back into bare old wood often fails to reshoot, so pruning is limited to younger growth. No routine pruning is otherwise required.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons