Goodenia Ovata 'Gold Cover'

Hop Goodenia

Botanical Name: Goodenia ovata 'Gold Cover'
Family: Goodeniaceae
Origin: Australia
Plant Type: Evergreen groundcover/sub-shrub

Overview

Goodenia ovata ‘Gold Cover’ is a tough, low, spreading native that carpets the ground with lush, glossy green foliage and masses of bright golden-yellow fan flowers through the warmer months. Ideal for embankments, retaining walls, spilling from pots and low-maintenance mass plantings in South Australian gardens.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.1–0.2 m H × 1–2 m W (dense, prostrate spreader)
• Growth Rate: 20-50 cm (spread) per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Evergreen, glossy mid-green leaves forming a thick, weed-suppressing mat; fresh lime new growth; may bronze slightly in winter
• Flowers: Golden-yellow fan/pansy-like blooms; main flush spring–summer, with spot colour into autumn in warm sites; generally not fragrant
  
• Seasonal Interest: Year-round green cover; peak flower display late spring–summer
• Wildlife Value: Flowers attract native pollinators; noted butterfly host plant
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, second-line coastal-tolerant; light frost (protect from hard frost); clay-tolerant with drainage
• Planting Density: Mass planting: 3–5 plants per m²; edges/drifts: 2–3 per linear metre
• Pet Friendly: Yes — generally regarded as non-toxic to pets (ingestion of any plant material may cause mild tummy upset)

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best flowering with more sun)
• Soil: Well-drained loam or sandy loam; tolerates improved clay if drainage is good
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Mulch in spring; light trim after main flowering to keep dense; slow-release native fertiliser in early spring
• Lifespan: 10–15+ years (long-lived groundcover with periodic refresh trims)
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including many coastal areas (away from direct salt spray)
• Soil pH: Slightly acid to neutral; tolerates mildly alkaline if free-draining

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Mass plant on banks and verges for bright, low-care groundcover
• Spill over retaining walls and pots; great for path/step edges
• Underplant taller natives (e.g., Westringia, Eremophila, Lomandra) for layered, water-wise designs

Why You Will Love It

A heat-loving, drought-ready native that smothers weeds, lights up the garden with gold flowers for months, and stays neat with just a quick post-bloom trim — perfect for busy, low-water South Australian landscapes.