Family: Goodeniaceae

An Australian native, Gooderria comprises over 170 species of small subshrubs and prostrate plants which have pretty yellow, white or blue flowers. Few of the species are cultivated, although most have good ornamental poten­tial, being small, showy and fairly easy to prop-agate. The plants are unlikely to be available outside Australia.

Species

G. affinis, from South Australia and Western Australia, has woolly, gray leaves which form rosettes 8-10 cm (3-4 in) high, and yellow flowers.

G. hederacea, a trailing plant good for groundcover, roots at the nodes. The yellow flowers bloom in spring and summer.

G. heteromera, a prostrate plant also suitable as a groundcover, spreads with runners and has small, yellow flowers during summer and autumn.

G. ovata is a widely distributed, quick-growing shrub to 2 m (6 ft), with yellow flowers in spring and summer.

G. pinnatifida is a small plant, less than 30 cm (12 in) high, with rosettes of leaves and yellow flowers through-out spring and summer.

Cultivation

In frost-prone climates, these Australian natives need to be grown in a cool, airy greenhouse or conservatory. Grow in pots of well-drained, soil-based potting compost or in a soil bed. Outdoors grow in a sunny spot with moist yet well-drained soil. Provide maxi-mum light. Propagate from cuttings, preferably taken in autumn.

Climate

Zone 9.