Fan Flower Scaevola aemula 'Blue Wonder'
ABOUT
The Scaevola aemula 'Blue Wonder,' commonly known as the Fan Flower, is a charming plant renowned for its unique floral structure and vibrant color. Its most striking feature is the fan-shaped flowers that bloom profusely, showcasing a bright blue hue with a hint of purple, giving the appearance of a small, radiant fan. These flowers are arranged in clusters along the stems, creating a wave of color that often lasts from spring to fall, providing long-lasting visual interest. The petals have a distinct, almost half-moon shape, with five lobes radiating outwards, accompanied by a small yellow or white throat at the center, which adds depth and contrast to the bloom. The Fan Flower has lush, green foliage that presents a dense and bushy growth, with leaves that are typically oval to spoon-shaped, sometimes having a fine toothy edge. The leaves create a beautiful backdrop for the flowers, accentuating their color. What makes the Fan Flower particularly attractive is how these blossoms and foliage combine to create a cascading effect, which makes it a favorite for hanging baskets, containers, and as groundcover in garden beds. The overall impression of the plant is one of vibrant color and a pleasing, spreading form that adds texture and a touch of the exotic to any setting where it's grown.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Goodeniaceae.
Synonyms
Fairy Fanflower, Blue Wonder Fan Flower, Common Fan Flower.
Common names
Scaevola aemula 'Blue Wonder'.
ToxicityTo humans
The plant commonly known as fairy fan-flower is not known to be toxic to humans. It does not contain any substances that are considered poisonous, and ingesting parts of this plant typically does not result in adverse symptoms. However, as with any plant, individual allergies or sensitivities may exist, and it is generally advisable not to consume parts of ornamental plants.
To pets
The fairy fan-flower is not known to be toxic to pets such as dogs and cats. It is not included in the lists of poisonous plants for pets, and there should be no toxic consequences from a pet ingesting parts of this plant. While it is generally safe, monitoring your pet for any sign of an unusual reaction is still a good practice if they ingest any plant material.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Blue
Height
0.5-1 feet (15-30 cm)
Spread
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
9
Native area
Australia
Benefits
General Benefits- Attracts Pollinators: Scaevola aemula 'Blue Wonder' is known to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects that pollinate flowers.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, it can tolerate periods of dry spells, reducing the need for frequent watering and making it suitable for water-wise gardens.
- Erosion Control: Its spreading habit makes it an excellent choice for stabilizing soil and preventing erosion on slopes and banks.
- Easy to Grow: Known for being low-maintenance, it does not require much care once it's settled in the right environment, making it ideal for novice gardeners.
- Heat Resistant: The plant thrives in hot conditions, making it perfect for warm climates and sunny locations.
- Long Blooming: It produces vibrant blue flowers over a long period, often from spring to frost, providing consistent color in the garden.
- Coastal Conditions: It's well-suited for seaside gardens as it can tolerate salt spray and sandy soils typical of coastal areas.
- Container Gardening: Its compact size and trailing habit make it an excellent choice for hanging baskets, window boxes, and other containers.
- Landscape Use: Its cascading growth and beautiful flowers are great for adding visual interest to rockeries, edges, and as a ground cover.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Scaevola aemula 'Blue Wonder', also known as fairy fan-flower, can be used as a natural dye for fabrics, providing a range of subtle green to blue hues depending on the mordant used.
- In coastal areas, fairy fan-flower can serve as a natural barrier against soil erosion, stabilizing sand dunes with its spreading root system.
- Fairy fan-flower is suitable for growing in containers on high-rise balconies, where wind tolerance is a desired trait due to the plant's resiliency in breezy conditions.
- The dense, mat-forming habit of the fairy fan-flower makes it an ideal living mulch, which helps retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth.
- For hobbyists in model scenery crafting, such as for model railroads or miniature landscapes, the fine foliage and small flowers of fairy fan-flower can serve as realistic miniature shrubbery or groundcover.
- As a companion plant in the vegetable garden, fairy fan-flower can provide ground coverage that helps maintain a microclimate around temperature-sensitive crops.
- During festive seasons, potted fairy fan-flower plants can act as temporary ornamental additions indoors, given their attractive foliage and long blooming period.
- Butterfly and hummingbird gardens can benefit from including fairy fan-flower, which acts as a nectar source to attract and support these pollinators.
- In landscape design, the spreading growth pattern of fairy fan-flower makes it a useful plant for filling gaps and borders in garden pathways, creating a continuous flow of foliage and blooms.
- For educational purposes, growing fairy fan-flower can demonstrate the value of native plant gardening to students, highlighting the needs and benefits of local flora in ecologically minded landscapes.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Fairy Fan Flower is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Fairy Fan Flower is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Devotion: Scaevola aemula 'Blue Wonder', commonly known as the fan flower, features fan-shaped blossoms that symbolize loyalty and faithfulness, much like a fan's unwavering support.
- Endurance: The fan flower is a hardy plant that can withstand various conditions, representing resilience and the ability to endure challenges.
- Intimacy: With its clustering flowers that seem to be huddled together, the fan flower can symbolize close bonds and intimate relationships.
- Resourcefulness: Due to its adaptable nature in different environments, the fan flower is often associated with the ability to thrive in diverse situations, reflecting resourcefulness.
WaterThe fan flower prefers consistently moist soil, so water regularly to maintain soil moisture without waterlogging the plant. During active growth in the warmer months, watering may be required once or twice a week, with approximately one gallon per watering for outdoor plants depending on weather conditions. Indoor plants in smaller pots may need about 8-16 ounces of water per week. It's essential to reduce watering in the cooler, dormant months to prevent root rot. Ensure the plant has well-draining soil and adjust frequency based on rainfall and temperature conditions.
LightFan flower thrives in full sun to partial shade conditions. For optimal growth, place it in a location where it can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. However, in extremely hot climates, some afternoon shade can help protect the plant from intense, scorching sun rays. Providing the right light balance will encourage abundant flowering.
TemperatureFan flower prefers warm temperatures and does best in environments where temperatures are between 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It can tolerate minimum temperatures down to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit but should be protected from frost. The ideal temperature range is important for prolonged flowering and healthy growth.
PruningPruning fan flower is mainly done to encourage bushier growth and to remove spent flowers, promoting further blooming. Lightly trim the tips of the foliage every few weeks during the growing season. The best time for more substantial pruning is in the late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins. Regular deadheading of withered flowers is also beneficial.
CleaningAs needed
SoilFan flower, or Scaevola 'Blue Wonder', thrives best in a well-draining potting mix with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.0. A mix of two parts peat moss or coco coir with one part perlite or sand facilitates proper drainage while retaining enough moisture for the roots. Regular potting soil can be amended with organic matter to enhance its structure and fertility.
RepottingFan flowers, such as the Scaevola 'Blue Wonder', should be repotted every 1 to 2 years or when it becomes root-bound. Typically, these plants enjoy being slightly root-bound, so repotting isn't needed too frequently, but regular checking of root growth can determine when it's time.
Humidity & MistingFan flower prefers moderate humidity levels, with an ideal range between 40-60%. Although Scaevola 'Blue Wonder' can tolerate some degree of humidity fluctuation, it's important to avoid overly dry air to prevent stress on the plant.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place Scaevola 'Blue Wonder' in bright, indirect light indoors.
Outdoor
Plant Scaevola 'Blue Wonder' in full to partial sunlight outside.
Hardiness zone
9-11 USDA
Life cycleScaevola aemula 'Blue Wonder', commonly known as Fairy Fan-flower, begins its life as a seed that germinates in warm, well-drained soil, usually in the spring. After germination, the seedling stage is marked by the emergence of its first true leaves and the development of a root system. As it enters the vegetative stage, the plant experiences rapid foliage growth and branching, forming its characteristic fan-shaped leaf arrangement. During the flowering stage, which occurs in late spring to summer, 'Blue Wonder' produces abundant blue-violet flowers along its sprawling stems, attracting pollinators. Following pollination, the plant sets seed, completing its reproductive cycle. In colder climates, Fairy Fan-flower may die back in winter, but if conditions are mild or the plant is protected, it can survive to regrow in the following spring, making it a perennial in some regions.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Summer
Scaevola aemula 'Blue Wonder', commonly known as Fairy Fan-flower, is commonly propagated through cuttings. The best time to take cuttings for propagation is late spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing. To propagate through cuttings, a gardener should select healthy, non-flowering stems and cut a 3 to 5-inch (about 7.5 to 12.5 centimeters) section. This section should then be stripped of its lower leaves, and the cut end can be dipped in a rooting hormone to stimulate root growth. The prepared cutting should then be planted in a moist, well-draining potting mix, ensuring that the nodes where the leaves were removed are buried in the soil. The pot should be kept in a warm, bright location out of direct sunlight and maintained at constant moisture. Roots typically develop within a few weeks, after which the new plant can be transplanted to a larger pot or directly into the garden.