Spring H-L

Looking at the photographs To view the photographs, click on the species image to enlarge it, then use the side arrows to page through images of the flowers, buds, fruit, leaves, foliage and plant(s) in the wild etc.
Viewing the meaning of botanical words To view the meaning of botanical words, hold the cursor on the blue word and the meaning will appear in a text box.
Based on Debenham C’s, The Language of Botany, A Publication of The Society for Growing Australian Plants, Chipping Norton NSW, c.1962.

Hardenbergia violacea

Botanical Name: Hardenbergia violacea
Commonly Called: Purple coral-pea
Botanical Family: Fabaceae
Grows: 2-4m H x 2-3m W
Foliage: Single, 2-5cm, lanceolate with prominent central and side veins, dark green upper surface, lighter lower surface.
Flowers: Long showy purple sprays arising from the leaf axils.
Flowering Season: Mainly spring but sporadic in winter.
Fruit: Long, flat, dark grey-brown pod.
Habitat/distribution: The only Tasmanian population is on dry hills near Sorell in the south east. However, now many Tasmanian gardens are adorned with mainland forms, especially the selected form, Hardenbergia violacea “Happy Wanderer”. Also SA, Vic, NSW, Q.
Where found: Home gardens, many public parks and reserves including the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens (Tasmanian form), Tasmanian Bushland Garden, Tasmanian Arboretum and Heritage Forest Tasmanian Plant Garden.
Other notes: Hardy plant which will grow in a variety of soil and sunlight conditions; it responds well to pruning after flowering. The Western Australian species Hardenbergia comptoniana has trifoliate (3 leaflets) leaves and tends to have longer sprays of blue flowers, sometimes with a white centre. It is commonly grown in Tasmanian home gardens.

Hibbertia appressa

Botanical Name: Hibbertia appressa
Commonly Called: Southern guineaflower
Botanical Family: Dilleniaceae
Grows: Scrambling ground cover to over 2m spread and climbs up to over 2m.
Foliage: Elliptical, dark green to 10 mm long, with stiff hairs on the upper surface, hooked hairs on the underside.
Flowers: Yellow with 5 deeply notched petals with 9-12 stamens in a single cluster to one side of the carpels (the female part of the flower, consisting of the ovary, style and stigma. TNF Ed.2 page 403).
Flowering Season: Spring
Fruit: a 3 lobed capsule
Habitat/distribution: Widespread but scattered in damp heaths, shrubberies and open forests in NW, NE, Midlands and SE. Also Vic.
Where found: Tasman Peninsula, Snug Falls, Pelverata Falls, South Port Lagoon and Exit Cave Tracks, Snug Tiers, Birchs Bay,, Gordon, Mt Balfour, Tarkine, Strahan, Birchs Inlet, King Island, Asbestos Hill, Dazzler Range, Huon Valley, Lune River, Recherche Bay.
Other notes: A good garden plant in moist, well drained, part sun areas. In the past, this species has been mistaken for Hibbertia empetrifolia.

Hibbertia procumbens

Botanical Name: Hibbertia procumbens Commonly Called: Spreading guineaflower
Botanical Family: Dilleniaceae
Grows: 10-15cm H x 15-30cm W
Foliage: Green, 5-20mm long, elliptical/linear, with soft point. Lower surface silky hairy with distinct central vein, edges rolled under. Small, narrow wiry stems.
Flowers: Profuse, 5 golden, rounded, notched petals, about 2.5cm across, solitary on a long stalk. Stamens, 20-25 clustered in 4 groups around the carpels.
Flowering Season: Spring
Fruit: a follicle
Habitat/distribution: On sunny banks with moist well-drained sandy soil. Common in coastal heathland, but also occurs in subalpine areas to 1000m. Also Vic, NSW.
Where found: Wide spread in the SW, W, NW, NE and SE areas; Tasman Peninsula, Circular Head, Waratah, King Island, Central Plateau, Overland Track, Birchs Inlet, Oatlands to Parattah Track, Copping Cemetery, Sandford and many other places.
Other notes: A good rockery plant for moist well-drained, mulched soils in full sun. The mass of golden flowers often covered with insects, soft to touch, but with an unpleasant odour.

Hibbertia riparia

Botanical Name: Hibbertia riparia
Commonly Called: Erect guineaflower
Botanical Family: Dilleniaceae
Grows: 10-90cm H x 20-60cm W
Foliage: Dark green, narrow/linear to 1cm long with margins rolled under, hairy undersurface.
Flowers: 5 markedly notched yellow petals with 5-12 stamens in a single cluster on one side of the 2 carpels. The flowers are terminal on the short side branches.
Flowering Season: Mainly spring, but often sporadic in summer and autumn.
Fruit: a 2-celled follicle.
Habitat/distribution: Common in moist lowland areas. Also SA, Vic, NSW, Qld.
Where found: Cheltenham, Tom Gibson, Knocklofty, Peter Murrell, Three Thumbs, and many other Reserves; Meehan Range, Bluff River Gorge, Southern Midlands; Freycinet, Narawntapu and Tasman NPs; Flinders Island.
Other notes: Plants with erect stems in moist areas. Hardy in home gardens, requires good drainage, some sun, responds to pruning for bushy, more floriferous habit.

Hibbertia sericea var sericea

Botanical Name: Hibbertia sericea var sericea
Commonly Called: Silky guineaflower
Botanical Family: Dilleniaceae
Grows: 10-60cm H x 50-100cm W
Foliage: Erect or spreading 5-10cm long, oblong to oblanceolate with broad central vein, edges rolled under, dark green slightly hairy upper surface, densely hairy lower surface.
Flowers: Bright yellow, 5 deeply notched petals to 2cm across, singly or in groups of 2-3 at the end of side branches and crowded among leaves at the end of the main stems. Stamens, 8-16 grouped to one side of the carpels.
Flowering Season: Spring
Fruit: a follicle
Habitat/distribution: Widespread and locally common in coastal heaths in the north and north-west. Also SA, Vic, NSW.
Where found: West Coast S of Temma and Couta Rocks, Rocky Cape NP, Port Sorell, Effingham, Lades Beach, Waterhouse Conservation Area, Mt William and possibly Georges Bay Heads.
Other notes: Silky-hairy leaves and stems. Does best in home gardens with well-drained soil, part shade and some moisture. Pruning retains shape and promotes flowering.