We offer two species of this attractive but little known evergreen Australian climbing plant.
H. scandens is a vigorous climber which can readily be grown outside in warmer parts of the country. It makes attractive groundcover or, more conventionally, it can be grown at the base of a warm sunny wall with trellis or wires to get it growing away. It can be very effective in coastal areas when grown over a sunny pergola or arch adding to the relatively small list of evergreen climbing plants which are suitable for this purpose. Its ultimate height can be as much as 15ft with a spread of half this.
H. scandens has large solitary yellow flowers with five petals that are 2-3in across. These are offset nicely by its large dark green matted leaves which are paler and silky underneath. The new shoots are reddish brown. Flowering starts in early summer and carries on intermittently into autumn especially where growth has been vigorous.
H. aspera is a smaller and more delicate evergreen climber with tiny leaves and bold yellow flowers. It is a conservatory plant and not for outdoors although it will not take up much room and is no trouble to grow. It is not unusual to find the odd flower on this plant during any month of the year but the main display is in the summer.
Hibbertia enjoy a loam based potting compost and grow best indoors with full sun and shading. They are greedy plants which respond well to regular monthly feeding. Keep moist in winter.
These plants are easily propagated from root cuttings with bottom heat.
Scale insects can be a problem on the leaves of H. scandens especially on older plants with a dense habit.
