Dilleniaceae
Guinea Flower (Genus Hibbertia)
Hibbertia
A warm-climate plant: full sun or part shade, sandy, well-drained soil, moderate watering and protection from frost. It can be grown in a pot and overwintered indoors in cold climates.
Every 7 days
Bright indirect
-1° - °C
% - %
Categories
What is Guinea Flower?
Guinea Flower (Hibbertia) is a medium-care plant from the Dilleniaceae family. Hibbertia is a genus of about 400 species in the family Dilleniaceae, almost all from Australia, with a few in New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji and Madagascar. They are called guinea flowers because the blooms resemble the old English gold guinea coin in colour and shape. Most are evergreen shrubs, o...
Guinea Flower grows up to 4.0m, watering every 7 days. It is suitable for indoor environments and safe for pets.
Unlike many popular species, Guinea Flower is safe to keep around pets. Without adequate drainage, root rot can develop within 14 days.
How to Care for Guinea Flower?
TLDR: Guinea Flower needs Bright indirect, watering every 7 days, and temperatures between -1-30°C with 40-70% humidity.
How Often Should You Water Guinea Flower?
Water when the top layer of soil is dry. It copes with short droughts but needs extra water in hot, dry summers. In pots, water freely in the growing season and keep just moist in winter.
How Much Light Does Guinea Flower Need?
Full sun or part shade. In dimmer light it stays more compact but grows more slowly and flowers less.
What Is the Best Soil for Guinea Flower?
Well-drained, preferably sandy soil. In pots, use potting mix with a few handfuls of sand. Acid, neutral or alkaline soil is fine.
What Pot Should You Use for Guinea Flower?
A pot with good drainage holes and a sandy mix; climbing species need a support.
Care Schedule
Fertilize
Every 30 days
Repot
Every 1095 days
What Is Guinea Flower and Where Does It Come From?
Hibbertia is a genus of about 400 species in the family Dilleniaceae, almost all from Australia, with a few in New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji and Madagascar. They are called guinea flowers because the blooms resemble the old English gold guinea coin in colour and shape. Most are evergreen shrubs, often low and mat-forming, and a few are climbers, such as Hibbertia scandens (snake vine), whose stems reach over 3 m. The flowers have five petals, usually bright yellow, sometimes orange, and open one at a time through spring and summer.
How to Propagate Guinea Flower?
Stem cutting
Cuttings are the reliable method; seed is slow and erratic. The plant dislikes root disturbance, so transplant with care.
- 1 Cut 10 cm tips of new or semi-ripe growth
- 2 Strip the leaves from the lower half
- 3 Insert in lightly moist peat or sand
- 4 Keep in indirect light with the mix moderately moist
- 5 Pot on into potting mix once rooted
Materials needed:
How Big Does Guinea Flower Grow?
TLDR: Guinea Flower can reach up to 4.0m tall with Medium growth rate.
Max height
4.0m
Growth rate
Medium
Foliage
Evergreen
Plant Uses
Ornamental
Great for decoration
Ground Cover
Soil coverage
Is your plant showing symptoms?
Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:
What Diseases Commonly Affect Guinea Flower?
TLDR: Guinea Flower is susceptible to 2 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.
Scale Insects
Scale insects are small sap-sucking pests that appear as brown, shell-like bumps on plant stems and leaves. There are over 25 species, divided into armored (hard) and unarmored (soft) scales. They feed by piercing plant tissue and extracting sap, which weakens the plant and can lead to yellowing, stunted growth, and even death if left untreated. They also excrete honeydew, which attracts ants and promotes sooty mold growth.
Root Rot
Root rot is a serious fungal disease that affects the root system of plants, causing them to decay and die. It is primarily caused by overwatering, poor drainage, or soil-borne fungi such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium. The disease thrives in waterlogged conditions where roots are deprived of oxygen, making them susceptible to fungal infection.
Fun Facts
The name guinea flower comes from the bloom's likeness to the old English gold guinea coin.
The genus honours George Hibbert, an 18th-century patron of botany.
Almost all of the roughly 400 species are found in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hibbertia frost hardy?
When does it flower?
How should I prune it?
What pests affect it?
Compare with similar plants
| Attribute | Difficulty | Light | Watering | Pet Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Fieldcap | Medium | Low light | 2d | ⚠️ |
| Azalea | Medium | Partial shade | 3d | ⚠️ |
| Muriel's Bamboo | Medium | Partial shade | 3d | ✓ |
| Bougainvillea | Medium | Direct sun | 7d | ⚠️ |
