Silky Guinea Flower Plant Care
Hibbertia sericea Benth.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Hibbertia sericea, commonly known as silky guinea-flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect or spreading shrub with softly-hairy branches, elliptic to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and yellow flowers with eight to fourteen stamens in a cluster on one side of two hairy carpels.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Silky Guinea Flower?
Plant Silky 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 Silky Guinea Flower Native To?
What Is the Silky Guinea Flower?
Silky Guinea Flower (Hibbertia sericea) belongs to the Dilleniaceae family within the Hibbertia genus. Silky Guinea Flower is native to south-eastern Australia. Silky Guinea Flower is also known as Golden Guinea Flower.
Silky Guinea Flower displays a low spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Silky Guinea Flower produces bright yellow five-petaled flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Silky Guinea Flower?
Water a young or newly planted Silky 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 Silky Guinea Flower Need?
Silky Guinea Flower thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Silky Guinea Flower Prefer?
Hibbertia sericea tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Silky Guinea Flower prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Silky Guinea Flower?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Silky Guinea Flower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Silky Guinea Flower?
Feed Silky 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 Silky 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.
Silky 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 Silky Guinea Flower?
Silky 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 Silky Guinea Flower?
Prune Silky 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 Silky Guinea Flower in Winter?
Silky 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 Silky Guinea Flower?
Silky 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 Silky Guinea Flower Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Silky 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 Silky Guinea Flower?
Silky 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 Silky Guinea Flower Need?
Silky Guinea Flower grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Silky Guinea Flower is native to south-eastern Australia. In cooler regions, grow Silky Guinea Flower as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Silky 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.
Silky 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 sericea Benth., family Dilleniaceae (first published in Fl. Austral. 1: 26 (1863)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Silky 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.
