Hibbertia scandens aka Snake Vine

Hibbertia scandens belongs to the Dilleniaceae family. This climber keeps its leaves all year. People call it snake vine or gold guinea plant. It comes from New Guinea and eastern Australia. There, it grows in Queensland and northern New South Wales. It grows in heath near the coast and eucalypt woods. It also grows at the edges of rainforests. Its sites range from sheltered mountain gullies to open dunes.

This woody plant winds around supports or sprawls over the ground. In gardens, it grows about 8–13 feet [2.5–4 metres] tall. It spreads about 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres] wide. Other accounts give stem lengths of 7–16 feet [2–5 metres]. It can climb much higher with support from nearby trees. Its oval leaves have a glossy sheen. The single yellow flowers each have five petals. They span about 2.4 inches. The RHS records blooms in summer. Accounts from the tropics report blooms through much of the year. Each flower lasts just one or two days. New blooms keep the show going over a long season.

Outdoors, give it sun or part shade and well-drained soil. It grows in loam and accepts acid, neutral, or alkaline soil. It also copes with salt winds near the coast. Reports differ on how well it copes with frost. Take care at cold sites. Some accounts report frost damage. Others say it withstands moderate frost from time to time. The RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H1C. In Britain, the RHS says to grow it under glass. Give it moist air and bright light through a filter. Use peat-free compost based on loam. Water well while it grows. Keep the compost moist in winter. Give a balanced liquid feed each month during the growing season.

It grows fast, making screens and dense ground cover. Use it near the coast, in courtyards, or in informal beds. It also suits beds along walls. The RHS says it takes 10–20 years to reach maturity. Sow seed in spring at 19–24°C. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer. Scale insects can cause trouble. The RHS reports few disease problems.

Useful Tropical Plants lists no known edible uses or hazards. This does not mean the plant is safe to eat. It notes past use for sores and rashes. It does not name the plant part used. Its records also describe an orange aril, a covering around the seed. This can give colour to a greasy paint. Extracts from the leaves have several uses in commercial cosmetics. These include helping to keep hair and skin in good condition.