Name:   Scaevola aemula aka blue fan flower

Type of Plant: A plant that comes from South Australia, perennial in warm climates and many varieties bred to be summer annuals in colder regions.

Why I Love This Plant:  I love blue Scaevola because it’s handsome, versatile, and reliable. You can use this as a bedding plant in annual or perennial gardens, or plant it with others in window boxes or pots. No deadheading needed!

A Word to the Wise: Here are two tips for getting the most out of your blue Scaevola plants. First, snip off the very tips of all of the branches when you plant. You can use a scissors or snips, and just cut off a half-inch at the end of the stems which will make your plants bush out.

Secondly, plant with some time-release fertilizer such as Shake n’ Feed. Scatter that around the area where you’re planting, and then dig the hole to put the plant in place. (Don’t put the fertilizer in the bottom of the hole.)

Grow this annual in full to part-sun.

A closeup shows why this is commonly called fan flower.   

Scaevola makes a good plant to put in the front of perennial gardens. Here it’s growing with day lilies and Stokesia.   

Scaevola mixes well with other plants in window boxes or hanging baskets. 

This is ONE Scaevola plant with a petunia and Mandevilla vine.