|
|
|
Last Updated: Jan 10, 2007 - 10:15:57 AM |
Fanflower (Scaevola aemula) is a truly unique and very beautiful perennial evergreen. The flowers and leaves stimulate the imagination and bring up images of a world filled with fairies and dragons. Maybe that’s why another common name is the “Fairy Fanflower.” Recently, the fanflower has been attracting the attention of lots of gardeners like me, and has won numerous awards throughout the U.S.
The fanflower is a native of Australia. There you can find it growing in sandy coastal areas. In your own garden, you can grow fanflowers as a sprawling groundcover or spilling joyfully out of hanging pots, planter boxes, or window boxes. As a perennial, fanflowers are suitable for zones 9 – 11. They are tolerant of sandy soils and an occasional spray of salty water. For these reasons, they do very well in coastal seaside gardens with moderate climates. If you live in other parts of the country, you can grow the fanflower outdoors as an annual, or you can enjoy the fanflower in containers during the summer and move them indoors in the winter.
The flowers of the fanflower are indeed noticeably fan-shaped. They form in a tight half-circle and each flower has 5 petals, around 1/2 inch in diameter. The plant grows to about 6 inches tall and depending on the variety it will spread to at least 36 inches or more. The fact that it has five petals has made some people comment on its similarity to the shape of the human hand! Another wonderful thing about this plant is that the flowers come in several unique colors. The most typical is blue or violet, but an arresting white is also available. There are several cultivars you can try, including cultivars that have a tendency to spread out wide. 'New Wonder’ is a cultivar that can actually spread out to around 5 feet! Outback Purple Fan, Blue Wonder, and Purple Fanfare are also all excellent choices. 'White Wonder' is your best pick for brilliant white fans. Be cautious of planting the “Beach naupaka” (Scaevola sericea), as it can become invasive.
As far as planting goes, you should plant the fanflower in full sun. A little bit of shade will work too, but as a general rule, fanlowers like the sun and the heat. Your soil should have plenty of organic material, but can be a little on the sandy side. The key is to have soil that drains well. In your garden, an occasional drink is fine. In containers, you’ll need to monitor the soil moisture more frequently. Fanflowers can handle dry conditions, but don’t like to be kept too dry for too long. Due to the fact that this plant can spread out, a spacing of about 12 to 18 inches will help avoid crowding. More fanflower facts and some awesome photos can be found here at the Australian National Botanic Gardens website .
© Copyright 2005 GardenPlantCare.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
