In the landscape, fan flowers make great border flowers and also excellent groundcover stabilizing soil and preventing erosion.
Plants growing in hot, dry desert areas may remain more pert if they are planted in dappled shade.
Soil
Rich soil isn’t necessary for thriving fan flower plants.
Scaevola ‘Purple Fanfare’Harley Seaway/Getty Images
A soil of average fertility is fine, with good drainage the most important factor in healthy plant growth.
Container plants do fine when planted in a standard commercial potting mix, perhaps with some sand blended in.
Proper spacing allows each plant to receive enough light and nutrients, promoting the healthiest growth.
Scaevola ‘White Carpet’Claire Takacs/Getty Images
Plants growing in wet soil may attract fungus gnats, or may experience root rot.
Wait until the soil surface is dry to water.
Wilted plants will perk up quickly after irrigation.
Temperature and Humidity
Fan flower grows vigorously in warm to hot weather.
Temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit will cause flowering to slow or stop.
The fan flower welcomes high humidity.
Choose a balanced flower fertilizer and apply it once a month during the growing season.
Types of Fan Flower
The pure species plant,S.
The many cultivars are generally shorter plants, more appropriate for containers and other garden uses.
Propagating Fan Flower
Propagating fan flower is usually done by rooting stem cuttings.
It’s best to buy packaged seeds from a commercial source rather than to collect seeds from existing plants.
Once true leaves have sprouted, the seedlings can be moved into a warm, sunny location.
But wait to transplant them outdoors until soil temps are at 65 degrees or higher.
Placing it in the container close to the edge will help with this.
Use loose, well-draining potting mix.
Before transferring, water the plant to soften the root system.
Wiggle the plant out gently.
Water generously in its new pot for the first two weeks while it’s getting established.
Watering should be reduced during the winter months so as to encourage partial dormancy.
Branches can be pinched back if they become sparse over the winter.
Root rot and fungal infection is also a risk if the plant’s soil is overly saturated.
What Do Fan Flowers Look and Smell Like?
They have a light, sweet scent.
Consider pruning it back for aesthetic reasons.
As with any plant, here are a few things to look out for.
double-check your fan flower is soaking up indirect, bright light.
If the yellow leaves also have brown spots, check the soil and verify you’re not overwatering.
Curling leaves could indicate surrounding temperatures are too high, too low, or fluctuating too suddenly.
Adding a layer of mulch may also help regulate the temperature.
Lobelia(Lobelia erinus) is indistinguishable from fan flower plants from a distance.
If you replace your faded lobelia plants with fan flower, your garden won’t miss a beat.
The outdoor container garden is where fan flower plants really shine.
Place them at the front of the pot, where they candrape over the sideand hide the rim.
In frost-free climates (zone 10, 11) scaevola planted in the garden will live indefinitely.
Scaevola or Fan Flower.
Clemson University Garden Information Center.
