Fan flower (Scaevola aemula)
Scaevola aemula, the Fan flower, is a low-maintenance Australian perennial offering continuous dark blue bloom in hot climates.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Fan flower, scientifically known as Scaevola aemula, is celebrated by gardeners for its profuse, long-lasting display of striking dark blue, fan-shaped flowers. Native to Australia, this plant thrives particularly well in hot and humid summer conditions, making it an excellent choice for dependable summer color where other annuals might struggle. Its sprawling, evergreen habit provides excellent texture contrast in mixed containers or along borders.
This herbaceous perennial is valued for its exceptionally low maintenance requirements once established, requiring only consistent moisture during the growing season. While hardy in warmer climates (Zones 10-11), gardeners in cooler regions typically treat the vibrant Scaevola aemula as a vigorous annual, easily justifying replacement each spring for its season-long performance.
The unique flower structure, which gives the plant its common name, features flowers that appear asymmetrical—the genus name itself alludes to this “left-handed” appearance. Offering continuous blooms until the first hard frost, the Fan flower ensures that hanging baskets, window boxes, and containers remain visually engaging throughout the peak summer months.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Goodeniaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Native Range: Australia
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-11
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.75-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: Flowers freely
- Bloom Description: Dark blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Scaevola aemula should occur after all danger of frost has passed if growing as an annual. Ensure the planting location offers average, medium, well-drained soil. While it tolerates full sun, this plant performs beautifully, possibly preferring, light filtered or dappled sun, especially in the hottest parts of the day.
Water regularly throughout the growing season to keep the soil consistently moist but not saturated, meeting its medium water needs. Scaevola aemula exhibits excellent tolerance for hot and dry summer climates once established, often requiring less fuss than many other annual bedding plants. Minimal fertilization is usually required if planting in fertile soil.
As a tender perennial, gardeners in cooler zones (below 10) must plan for overwintering or replacement. For overwintering container plants, move them indoors before frost; alternatively, take cuttings in late summer to propagate new plants for the next season. Otherwise, simply remove older plants in the fall and look forward to planting fresh Fan flower specimens in the spring.
Landscape Uses
The versatility of the Fan flower makes it a staple in contemporary landscaping, often grown as a fast-performing annual. Its trailing and slightly sprawling habit wonderfully suits edging pathways or cascading over the sides of containers and hanging baskets, softening hard lines. Consider planting it near the edge of a wall to drape gracefully downwards.
Because its foliage is evergreen in its native range and its bloom color is a distinct dark blue, Scaevola aemula pairs effectively with plants offering contrasting foliage colors, such as chartreuse sweet potato vine or silvery dusty miller. It serves perfectly as “spiller” material in a “thriller, filler, spiller” container arrangement.
For bedding applications, space plants according to their 1-2 foot spread to allow them to knit together, creating a dense mat of dark blue flowers. This use maximizes the impact of the continuous blooming habit throughout the warm season.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Scaevola aemula, commonly called fan flower or fairy fan flower, is native to Australia. It is a sprawling evergreen perennial with ascending and/or procumbent stems, typically growing up to 18” tall and spreading to 24” wide. It thrives in hot, humid climates where it produces a non-stop bloom of dark blue fan-shaped flowers on trailing stems from summer until the first frost. The genus name references the hand-like aspect of the flower, derived from the Greek word for left-handed.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
Scaevola aemula is generally recognized for its lack of serious insect or disease problems, which contributes significantly to its low maintenance rating. This robust nature means gardeners usually do not need to implement heavy pesticide or fungicide regimes. Ensure adequate air circulation, especially in humid environments, to prevent any minor fungal issues, though this is rare for the Fan flower.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Scaevola aemula suitable for?
This plant is winter hardy to USDA Zones 10 and 11, meaning it should be treated as a warm-season annual in cooler regions.
How large does Fan flower grow?
Scaevola aemula typically reaches heights between 0.75 and 1.5 feet tall, spreading out to cover an area between 1 and 2 feet wide.
When does Fan flower bloom?
This species flowers freely, producing its signature dark blue blooms consistently throughout the summer season until the first frost arrives.
What sun exposure does Scaevola aemula need?
Fan flower performs well across a range from full sun to light, filtered, or dappled partial shade conditions.
Conclusion
The Fan flower (Scaevola aemula) provides season-long visual appeal with minimal fuss, making it an outstanding choice for consistently bright summer color, especially in challenging heat. Its low maintenance and non-stop flowering guarantee vibrant displays in baskets or beds. Before planting, ensure your location falls within USDA Hardiness Zones 10-11, or plan to integrate this beautiful specimen as a reliable annual.
Propagation Tips
Since container plants can be overwintered indoors, propagation is easily managed via cuttings taken in late summer. Cuttings root readily, allowing you to easily start new Fan flower plants without relying on seed starting, which must commence 6-8 weeks before your region’s last expected frost date. Successful propagation ensures you have reliable stock of Scaevola aemula for the following year.
Companion Planting
Due to its trailing habit and preference for well-drained soil in full sun to part shade, Scaevola aemula pairs excellently with upright, sun-loving “thriller” plants in containers, such as cannas or ornamental grasses. For bedding designs, use it alongside mounding annuals that thrive in heat, like vinca or zinnias, to create layers of complementary color and texture beneath the dark blue blooms of the Fan flower.
