Plant profile
Ivy goodenia
Goodenia hederacea
A soft spreading native with rounded to lobed leaves and bright yellow flowers. It fits beneath open shrubs and along woodland edges where a low herbaceous layer is more useful than a woody groundcover.
- Grows well in
- Subtropical, Temperate, Cool / mountains
- Lifecycle
- Perennial native groundcover
- Light
- Full sun, Part shade
- Mature size
- 10–30 cm high, spreading 40–80 cm or more
- Spacing
- Space about 30–45 cm apart for a joined planting.
- Growth habit
- Low spreading perennial herb.
- Native range
- Eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
- Natural habitat
- Forest, woodland and grassy woodland, often in sheltered ground-layer vegetation.
When to plant
Subtropical
March–August
Temperate
March–May
Cool / mountain
September–November
Plant during mild weather while you can provide reliable water for establishment. Autumn or spring suits temperate districts; in warmer subtropical gardens the cooler part of the year is often easier.
Planting
Plant small plants or rooted divisions into the front of a woodland-style bed, under open shrubs or along a lightly shaded path. Keep the crown level with the soil and use fine leaf litter rather than burying the plant under chunky mulch. It spreads softly rather than forming a hard woody mat, so it mixes well with small grasses, violets and ferns. Weed between young plants until the ground layer begins to knit together.
Position and light
Light shade or morning sun suits ivy goodenia well. In cooler districts it can take more sun, while hot gardens benefit from protection during the strongest part of the afternoon.
Soil
Ordinary garden soil works well if it drains reasonably and holds some moisture. Add organic matter to very poor soil, but avoid low spots that stay saturated after rain.
Watering
Water regularly while the plant establishes and during extended dry weather. Once the spreading stems have rooted into the soil, the plant is more resilient between waterings.
Feeding
Established native groundcovers usually need little feeding. If growth is weak, use a light application of a low-phosphorus fertiliser suitable for Australian natives during active growth.
Pruning
Trim old flower stems and pull or clip wandering edges back from paths. Light pruning keeps the ground layer tidy without turning it into a formal clipped mat.
Propagation
Propagate from cuttings, seed or divided rooted pieces. Naturally rooted stems are useful because they can be lifted and replanted with very little disturbance.
Common problems
Plants may thin in deep dry shade or scorch in exposed hot sun. Continually wet soil can cause crown decline, and slugs may chew young leaves.
Worth knowing
Goodenia hederacea works best as a soft woodland ground layer rather than a formal carpet. It mixes easily with grasses, violets and other small native plants. Featured image by Melburnian, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes were made.
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