Soft Guinea Flower Plant Care
Hibbertia mollis Toelken
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Hibbertia mollis is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to a restricted part of Western Australia. It is a shrub with hairy, ridged branches, narrow elliptic-oblong leaves, and yellow flowers arranged singly in leaf axils with about twenty-four stamens arranged in bundles around two densely scaly carpels.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Soft Guinea Flower?
Plant Soft Guinea Flower in full sun to partial shade (USDA zones 12a) and water a young shrub every 7–14 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Soft Guinea Flower Native To?
What Is the Soft Guinea Flower?
Soft Guinea Flower (Hibbertia mollis) belongs to the Dilleniaceae family within the Hibbertia genus. Soft Guinea Flower is native to a restricted part of Western Australia.
Soft Guinea Flower displays a low spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Soft Guinea Flower produces bright yellow five-petaled flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Soft Guinea Flower?
Water a young or newly planted Soft Guinea Flower every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Until established; then in dry spells
What Light Does the Soft Guinea Flower Need?
Soft Guinea Flower thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Soft Guinea Flower Prefer?
Hibbertia mollis tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Soft Guinea Flower prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Soft Guinea Flower?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Soft Guinea Flower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Soft Guinea Flower?
Feed Soft Guinea Flower every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.
Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
Where Should You Plant a Soft Guinea Flower?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter for moisture retention. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Soft Guinea Flower is suited to USDA Zone 12a.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Far Apart Should You Plant a Soft Guinea Flower?
Soft Guinea Flower can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 2 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.
Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.
How Do You Prune a Soft Guinea Flower?
Prune Soft Guinea Flower while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.
How Do You Care for a Soft Guinea Flower in Winter?
Soft Guinea Flower is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.
How Do You Propagate a Soft Guinea Flower?
Soft Guinea Flower can be propagated through softwood cuttings, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to hibbertia acaulothrix plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Soft Guinea Flower Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Soft Guinea Flower, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Soft Guinea Flower?
Soft Guinea Flower is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Soft Guinea Flower Need?
Soft Guinea Flower grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Soft Guinea Flower is native to a restricted part of Western Australia. In cooler regions, grow Soft Guinea Flower as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Soft Guinea Flower is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Hibbertia genus — compare its care with other Hibbertia species on PlantoScan.
Hibbertia is part of the Dilleniaceae plant family — browse all Dilleniaceae genera and species.
Soft Guinea Flower thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Hibbertia Species
Other Hibbertia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Hibbertia mollis Toelken, family Dilleniaceae (first published in J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 23: 64 (2010)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Soft Guinea Flower, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
