How to Plant and Grow Scaevola

Scaevola, commonly known as fan flower, bears abundant blue, pink, white, or purple blooms along fleshy, deep green stems. No matter what color you choose, the fans or petals sport a bright yellow-and-white center in asymmetrical blooms that attract pollinators and cover the plant throughout the growing season—which can last from early summer to first frost.

This Australian native is heat—and drought-tolerant, so it's a good plant for enduring summer months. The trailing and cascading habit also makes scaevola a natural choice for groundcover or mixed containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets.

Where to Plant Scaevola

Native to Australia, scaevola is sun-loving and should be planted in a sunny area. It can be treated like a fast-growing summer annual in many parts of the country but can also be grown as a perennial in warm climates (like hardiness zones 10-11).

Scaevola makes an excellent addition as an annual shrub or groundcover for xeriscape and low-water gardens. It also fares well in sunny coastal climates and isn’t deterred by moist, salty air.

Scaevola can be planted directly in the ground. However, due to its compact, tumbling growth habit, it is often grown in containers or flower beds, where its pretty blooms spill over the sides and attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to the garden.

How and When to Plant Scaevola

You can plant nursery-grown Scaevola seedlings in the spring when the soil is warm and frost is unlikely. Before planting, amend the soil (preferably at least two weeks before planting) to ensure it's well-draining. When you are ready, dig a hole twice the size of the plant's root ball and place the seedling in the hole so it sits at the same level in the ground as in its container. Fill in the soil and tamp it down evenly. Water thoroughly and continue to water daily until the seedling is well-established (1 to 2 weeks).

If you are planting more than one scaevola plant, be sure to give each one about 12 to 18 inches of space to grow. If the plants are too close together, they may compete for light and nutrients and may not produce as many blooms.

Many of the same standards apply when growing scaevola in containers. Choose a container with excellent drainage. For hanging baskets or containers 10 inches or larger, you can use as many as 3 to 4 plants evenly spaced apart.

Scaevola Care Tips

Scaevola comes from the arid Australian outback environment, so they have little problem dealing with summer heat and drought. However, they will not tolerate wet soil. If you plan to plant them in a container or hanging basket, use a medium-course, general-purpose potting mix that will drain freely.

Light

Whether you are planting it in the ground or a container, scaevola prefers full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours each day). It can also tolerate small amounts of shade but may produce fewer blooms.

Soil and Water

Scaevola prefers medium-course, well-draining, loamy soil (much like what is found in its native habitat). It is not particular about the soil pH but won’t tolerate soggy soil. If you need to amend your soil, till in some organic matter (like compost or peat moss) to improve drainage.

Temperature and Humidity

Scaevola is a tough plant that thrives in hot, dry weather and will put on its best displays when temperatures are between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It is not cold hardy, so it is considered an annual in most climates. Even in warmer climates, container-grown plants may need protection if night temperatures dip below 50 degrees.

The thick, fleshy foliage of scaevola has adapted to drought, retaining water through dry spells. That said, scaevola loves humidity and will fare beautifully in hot, moist climates (but not soggy soil).

Fertilizer

Scaevola is a survivor and doesn’t need much fertilizer, but you can promote flowering with the light application of a balanced fertilizer (12-12-12) once a month during the growing season.

Pruning

Scaevola plants are self-cleaning, so you won’t need to deadhead spent blooms. If you like, you can pinch back the stems of your plant to prevent leggy growth (and create a bushier plant). You can also cut the plant back periodically to control its growth and encourage new shoots.

Potting and Repotting

Scaevola makes an excellent container garden plant, particularly for hanging baskets or window boxes where the blooms can drape over the edges. The guidelines for potting scaevola are very much the same as those required for planting in the ground (full sun, well-draining moist soil), but you may want to fertilize a container-grown scaevola a little more frequently to keep it happy and healthy.

Since scaevola is grown as an annual in most climates, repotting is not likely to be necessary, but if you do decide to transfer your scaevola to a different pot, be sure to keep it well-watered (but not soggy) for at least 1 to 2 weeks after transplanting to help it reestablish itself.

In warm climates where scaevola can be grown as a perennial, you may still wish to protect it occasionally from chilly temperatures. This is best done by growing the plant in a container that can easily be moved to a sunny window when the plant needs extra protection. You can also overwinter ground-planted scaevola by cutting them back to two-thirds their size in the fall and then potting them up to bring them inside. Reduce watering and stop fertilizing during these overwintering periods to encourage winter dormancy.

Pests and Problems

Scaevola is tough and disease-resistant in warm, sunny climates with well-draining soil. However, it can be susceptible to root rot if the soil is too wet or if the plant endures long periods of drought followed by excessive watering.

Few pests bother scaevola, but keep an eye out for aphids, thrips, or whiteflies that may occasionally appear.

How to Propagate Scaevola

If you can’t find nursery-grown scaevola plants, you can propagate your own from seed or cuttings. Growing a new plant from seed requires patience but is doable when a viable parent plant is unavailable for cuttings.

To grow scaevola from seed, start your seeds indoors about two months before the last frost date. Place the seeds in a tray of medium-coarse potting mix and lightly cover them (as they will need ample light to germinate). Mist them lightly and keep them in a warm location (preferably about 70 degrees Fahrenheit) with bright, indirect sunlight. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy while the seeds germinate, likely taking about 1 to 2 months. Once the seeds begin to sprout, move them to a warm, sunny location to continue growing.

To propagate scaevola from cuttings, use sharp pruning shears to take 4- to 6-inch stem cuttings from a non-blooming section of the plant at the end of the summer. Leave a couple of leaves near the top of the cutting, remove all other leaves, and dip the cut end into a rooting hormone. Plant your cutting into a small pot filled with medium-coarse potting mix. Place the pot in a warm, sunny spot where temperatures remain approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.

Seedlings (whether grown from seed or cuttings) can be transplanted outdoors once soil temperatures are reliably above 65 degrees. For a smoother transition, harden your seedlings off by placing them outside for a few hours a day (5 to 7 days) and increasing the outside exposure a little more each day.

Types of Scaevola

'Blue Wonder' Scaevola

Scaevola aemula has sky-blue, fan-shaped blooms that cover these trailing plants. Plant in Zones 10–11.

'White Carpet' Scaevola

The ‘white carpet’ variety of scaevola is a fast-growing ground cover that works well along borders or in hanging baskets. It features small, fan-shaped flowers that cover the plant in warm climates throughout spring, summer, and fall.

Scaevola Companion Plants

Salvia

Salvia, also known as sage, is a popular addition to almost any garden and is hardy in Zones 4–10. Whether you have a sunny garden bed, a shady oasis, a dry garden, or lots of rainfall, chances are there's an annual or perennial salvia that you'll find indispensable. The aromatic blooms (especially the red ones) attract hummingbirds and are great picks for adding seasonal color to otherwise hot, dry sites.

Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera daisies bloom in nearly every color (except true blues and purples) and produce huge flowers on long, thick, sturdy stems. They also last a week or more in the vase, making them a favorite of flower arrangers. This tender perennial will last through the winter in the warmest parts of the country (namely zones 9–11). In the rest of the country, it is grown as an annual. Like scaevola, gerbera daisies do well in a sunny location with average soil kept evenly moist, but not overly wet.

Geranium

Geraniums (Pelargonium, not to be confused with perennial geraniums) have been a standard for beds, borders, and containers for centuries. These annual geraniums come in a variety of types, including zonal, ivy, regal (or Martha Washington), and scented-leaf, among others. The majority of these sun-loving blooms love hot weather and hold up well to dry conditions, but ivy geraniums may prefer some shelter from the harsh afternoon sun.