shrub

Hairy Guinea Flower

The Story

Plant Bio

Hibbertia vestita, the hairy guinea flower, is a low-spreading evergreen shrub native to eastern Australian coastal heathlands and dry sclerophyll forests. The prostrate stems are clothed in small, linear leaves with recurved margins, both covered in fine hairs that give the foliage a textured, grey-green appearance.

Bright yellow, five-petalled flowers with a crinkled texture appear primarily in spring and summer, sitting flush against the foliage at the branchlet tips. The dense, cushion-like growth habit provides essential ground-level shelter for small native lizards and skinks.

Uses & Benefits:

Produces a long-lasting display of bright yellow, crinkled flowers against fine, textured grey-green foliage.

Excellent for stabilizing sandy soils and coastal dunes due to its high salt tolerance and low-spreading habit.

Provides essential ground-level shelter for native skinks and lizards, and serves as a host plant for the Satin-green Forester moth.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

12 inches

Width

36 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

9, 10

Water

Low to moderate

Humidity

High tolerance

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Eastern Australia

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Bloom period

Spring – Summer

In flower about 4 months of the year

Planting

How to Grow

Select a planting site in full sun to partial shade with excellent drainage, such as a raised bed, rockery, or sandy slope.
Incorporate coarse sand or organic matter into heavy soils to ensure water drains rapidly away from the root zone.
Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and plant at the same depth as the nursery container, avoiding burying the stem.
Water deeply at establishment, then transition to occasional deep watering only during extended dry periods once the root system is established.

Pro Tip

Plant in raised mounds of sandy, sandstone-based soil to prevent Phytophthora root rot, and restrict pruning to the leafy outer perimeter as old wood lacks epicormic buds.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Grow in highly permeable, sandy or sandstone-based soils.
Prune lightly after the main spring flowering flush to maintain a compact, dense habit.
Apply a low-phosphorus, slow-release native fertiliser sparingly in late winter.

Don't

Do not plant in heavy, water-retaining clay soils that promote root rot.
Do not prune harshly back into old, bare, brown wood as it will not reshoot.
Do not overwater or allow the roots to sit in waterlogged conditions.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fertilize
Pest Check
Plant
Propagate
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Rock gardensCoastal gardensGroundcoverEmbankment stabilizerContainer planting

Companion Plants

Eucalyptus racemosa Lomandra longifolia Banksia spinulosa Actinotus helianthi

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Hairy Guinea Flower questions

What zones can Hairy Guinea Flower grow in?

Hairy Guinea Flower is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

When does Hairy Guinea Flower bloom?

Hairy Guinea Flower typically blooms in spring through summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Hairy Guinea Flower need full sun?

Hairy Guinea Flower does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Hairy Guinea Flower drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Hairy Guinea Flower handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.