Fairy fan-flower (scaevola) Scaevola aemula
Fairy fan-flower (scaevola) (Scaevola aemula) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Goodeniaceae family, native to Coastal south-eastern Australia. It grows 20–50 cm (8–20 in) tall and 50 cm–1 m (20 in–3.3 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -2 °C (28 °F). Space plants about 40 cm (16 in) apart.
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Fairy fan-flower (scaevola) at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Goodeniaceae |
| Mature height | 20–50 cm (8–20 in) |
| Mature spread | 50 cm–1 m (20 in–3.3 ft) |
| Spacing | 40 cm (16 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -2 °C (28 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 40 °C (104 °F) |
| Flowering | about 9–17 weeks after planting, for 17–29 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Coastal south-eastern Australia |
| Common in gardens of | 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇯🇵 Japan |
Is Fairy fan-flower (scaevola) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not known to be poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Fairy fan-flower (scaevola)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Fairy fan-flower (scaevola)
- How far apart should I plant Fairy fan-flower (scaevola)?
- About 40 cm (16 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 50 cm–1 m (20 in–3.3 ft).
- Does Fairy fan-flower (scaevola) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Fairy fan-flower (scaevola) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Fairy fan-flower (scaevola)?
- It tolerates about -2 °C (28 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Fairy fan-flower (scaevola) flower?
- About 9–17 weeks after planting, for 17–29 weeks.
- Is Fairy fan-flower (scaevola) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not known to be poisonous.
- What grows well with Fairy fan-flower (scaevola)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Fairy fan-flower (scaevola). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Australian native plant profiles, Australian National Botanic Gardens / Australian Plants Society
- PlantNET: the NSW Flora Online, National Herbarium of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Notes and assumptions
- Fan-shaped purple-blue flowers, as if half the petals were missing, all summer long. Bred into bedding and hanging-basket varieties (‘Purple Fanfare’, ‘Whirlwind’) sold all over the world as summer annuals.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
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