{"title":"Fan Flowers (Scaevola)","description":"\u003cp\u003eFan flowers are the native groundcovers that flower longest. Each plant spreads into a mat 20cm to 30cm high and up to 1.2m across, covered from spring to autumn in fan-shaped flowers in mauve, purple or pink that bees and butterflies work all day. They take heat, coast, dry spells and poor soil, and they spill over walls and pots as readily as they cover ground. This range has five Scaevola selections. Every plant is delivered Australia wide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to choose a fan flower\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChoose by colour and spread. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/fan-flower-scaevola-mauve-clusters\"\u003eMauve Clusters\u003c\/a\u003e (\u003cem\u003eScaevola\u003c\/em\u003e 'Mauve Clusters') is the lowest and widest, a 20cm mat to 1.2m across in soft mauve, the one for covering a bank or a large bed. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/fan-flower-scaevola-purple-fanfare\"\u003ePurple Fanfare\u003c\/a\u003e and Purple Fusion are deeper violet-purple on plants about 30cm high and a metre wide, and they are the strongest flowering of the group. For pink, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/royal-robe-fan-flower-scaevola-pink-perfection\"\u003ePink Perfection\u003c\/a\u003e spreads to 1.2m with rose-pink fans, and Pink Fusion is a slightly more compact pink to about 80cm. All five flower for most of the year in warm climates and from spring to the first frosts in cooler ones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere fan flowers work\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFull sun and well-drained soil. Fan flowers are at home on banks and retaining walls, in rockeries and gravel gardens, along the front of native beds, between pavers, in hanging baskets and spilling from pots and planter boxes. They tolerate coastal salt wind and reflected heat off paving, and they grow in every capital city; in Melbourne, Canberra and the tablelands they may be cut back by frost and reshoot in spring, and in Brisbane and the subtropics they want the best drainage you can give them through a wet summer. Plant them with kangaroo paws, grevilleas and the other plants in our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-natives\"\u003eAustralian natives\u003c\/a\u003e range, or among the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003egroundcover plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and spacing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in spring or autumn into soil that drains freely; on heavy clay, plant into a mound or a raised bed with gypsum and compost worked in. Space plants 60cm to 80cm apart for a solid cover within a season, or 1m apart if you are patient. In pots use a native or premium mix and a container at least 250mm wide. Water twice a week for the first two months, then weekly through the first summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCare basics\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFan flowers are short on demands. Feed once in spring with a native, low-phosphorus fertiliser. Trim the mat back by about a third in late winter or after the main flush of flowers to keep it dense and flowering; an unpruned plant goes woody in the centre after a few years. Water in long dry spells and the flowering keeps going. Few pests trouble them; root rot in wet, heavy soil is the one thing that kills them, which is why drainage matters more than anything else. Plants are not long lived, three to five years is typical, and are easily replaced or renewed from tip cuttings in spring. Our guide to \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-plants-for-ground-cover-a-guide-to-greenery\"\u003eplants for ground cover\u003c\/a\u003e sets fan flowers among the alternatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long do fan flowers flower?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom spring to autumn in most of Australia, and almost year round in the subtropics. A light trim after each flush brings the next one on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAre fan flowers frost hardy?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frosts, yes. A hard frost burns the mat back, and the plant usually reshoots from the centre in spring. Plant against a warm wall in cold districts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill fan flowers grow in a hanging basket?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery well. The trailing stems hang 50cm or more over the edge and flower along their length. Water baskets daily in hot weather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo fan flowers need pruning?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne trim a year, by about a third, in late winter. It keeps the plant compact and stops the woody centre that older plants develop.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"fan-flower-scaevola-mauve-clusters","title":"Fan Flower - Scaevola ‘Mauve Clusters’","description":"\u003cp\u003eFan Flower 'Mauve Clusters' (\u003cem\u003eScaevola aemula\u003c\/em\u003e 'Mauve Clusters') is a low Australian native groundcover that flowers for most of the year rather than for a few weeks. It stays under 20cm high and spreads to about 1.2m, laying down a flat mat of small green leaves covered in mauve fan shaped flowers. For a hot dry bank or a pot that needs colour without fuss, there are few easier natives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers nearly all year.\u003c\/strong\u003e The mauve fan shaped blooms come in flushes through spring, summer and autumn, and in mild gardens it barely stops.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow and wide.\u003c\/strong\u003e At 20cm tall and 1.2m across it hugs the ground and spills over edges without crowding anything.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeat, drought and salt.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once established it takes hot exposed positions, dry spells and coastal salt spray.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQuick to cover.\u003c\/strong\u003e A bed planted in spring generally reads as continuous by the end of summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA magnet for bees and butterflies.\u003c\/strong\u003e The long flowering season keeps pollinators fed through months when many natives have finished.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 60cm apart for a dense groundcover, about three plants per square metre. Closer than that wastes plants, because the stems overlap and flowering thins in the crowded centre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and balconies.\u003c\/strong\u003e The trailing habit is made for spilling over the rim of a pot. One plant fills a 300mm pot, and it pairs well with taller upright natives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens, borders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerance makes it a reliable front row plant in a seaside garden, and along a path it softens the hard edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Fan Flower in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun for the heaviest flowering; light shade is tolerated but halves the display. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It takes light frost only, so in cold inland and hard frosting southern gardens treat it as a pot plant that can be moved under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sandy, gravelly and free draining is ideal. Rich moist ground gives lush foliage and disappointing flowering. On clay, mound the bed and open it up with coarse sand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week through the first summer, then only during long dry spells. In pots it needs more. Feed lightly with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim the whole plant back by a third in late winter or after a heavy flowering flush. That keeps it dense and flowering to the tips instead of bare and stringy in the middle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt comes as tube stock or as packs of ten 140mm plants. Tubes are small rooted cuttings and the economical way to cover a large area, filling out within a season. The 140mm plants are already spreading and often carrying flowers, so they suit a smaller bed or a pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoft trailing stems can arrive a little bent from the box. That grows out quickly and is not a fault. Plant promptly, water in well, and expect noticeable spread within four to six weeks in warm weather. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare the full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003egroundcover plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003ecoastal and salt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e for an exposed seaside bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRead our guide to \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-plants-for-ground-cover-a-guide-to-greenery\"\u003echoosing ground cover plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree, at 60cm spacing, for a dense groundcover. A 10 square metre bed takes about thirty plants, which is where the packs of ten become the practical option.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it handle frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. A brief touch of frost in a mild garden will burn some foliage and it recovers, but repeated hard frosts will kill it. In cold districts grow it in a pot and shift it under eaves for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long does each plant live?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree to five years is typical, longer in a well drained sunny position with an annual trim. It is inexpensive to replace, and many gardeners add a few fresh plants every few years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":51647839535423,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54140082028863,"sku":null,"price":195.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Fan-Flower-Scaevola-Mauve-Clusters.png?v=1766224133"},{"product_id":"fan-flower-scaevola-pink-fusion","title":"Fan Flower - Scaevola ‘Pink Fusion’","description":"\u003cp\u003eFan Flower 'Pink Fusion' (\u003cem\u003eScaevola aemula\u003c\/em\u003e 'Pink Fusion') is the native groundcover for hot, bright, difficult spots. It stays under 300mm tall and spreads to about 800mm, throwing pink fan shaped flowers over the foliage for most of the year in warm districts. Planted 50cm apart it covers bare ground quickly and asks for very little water once away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers almost year round.\u003c\/strong\u003e In warm climates the pink fans keep coming through spring, summer and autumn, with only a brief winter pause.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow and spreading.\u003c\/strong\u003e Under 300mm tall by roughly 800mm wide, so it hugs the ground and never needs cutting back off a path.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast cover.\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the quicker native groundcovers, which matters when you are shading out weeds on a new bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeat, drought and salt.\u003c\/strong\u003e Reflected heat off paving, dry sandy soil and coastal salt air are all within its range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 50cm apart for quick groundcover, which is four plants per square metre. At that spacing the plants knit together within a season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders, edging and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e It spills neatly over a rock edge or the front of a bed, and bees and butterflies work the flowers all through the warm months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots, baskets and coastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e The trailing habit suits the edge of a large pot or a hanging basket in full sun, and it takes salt air on an exposed coastal balcony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Fan Flower in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun. Shade gives long stems and few flowers. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid to semi-arid gardens. Light frost is tolerated once established, so hard frosting inland or cold southern gardens should treat it as a warm season pot plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining and on the lean side. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal. On clay, raise the bed and work coarse material through it, because sitting wet is the main cause of sudden collapse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week for the first month, weekly through the first summer, then only in long dry spells. A light controlled release native fertiliser in early spring is enough; heavy feeding gives you leaf at the expense of flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the whole planting back by about a third in late winter, or after a heavy flush. It looks bare for a fortnight, then returns denser and flowers harder. Left untrimmed it goes woody and open in the centre after two or three years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo sizes are grown: tube stock, and 140mm plants in packs of ten. For groundcover the pack of ten is the sensible unit, since 50cm spacing means ten plants cover roughly two and a half square metres. Tube stock is the cheapest way to plant a large area and it catches up within a season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants arrive young, often with a few flowers open and stems kept short for transit. A little leaf drop after a long trip is normal. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect visible spread within four to six weeks in warm weather, and full cover in one to two seasons. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-plants-for-ground-cover-a-guide-to-greenery\"\u003eA guide to choosing groundcover plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the full groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003ePlants that suit rockeries and gravel gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/the-perfect-edging-plants-landscape-your-perfect-garden\"\u003eChoosing edging plants for the front of a bed\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFour, at the 50cm spacing we recommend. On a large area you can stretch to 60cm and accept an extra few months before the ground closes over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy has mine gone woody in the middle?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is normal after two or three years without a hard trim. Shear the whole plant back by a third in late winter and it refurnishes from the base within a month.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. Established plants shrug off a touch of white on the lawn, but repeated hard frosts kill it, so cold gardens should grow it in pots that can be moved under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":51647839732031,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54140082061631,"sku":null,"price":196.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Fan-Flower-Scaevola-Pink-Fusion.png?v=1766224135"},{"product_id":"royal-robe-fan-flower-scaevola-pink-perfection","title":"Royal Robe Fan Flower - Scaevola ‘Pink Perfection’","description":"\u003cp\u003eFan flower 'Pink Perfection' (\u003cem\u003eScaevola aemula\u003c\/em\u003e 'Pink Perfection') is the native groundcover for a hot, dry, awkward spot. It stays about 30cm tall and spreads to 1.2m, running flat over the ground and covering itself in small pink flowers shaped like a half open fan. Flowering runs from spring through to autumn in a warm garden, and bees and butterflies work it the whole time. It is drought, heat and salt tolerant once established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt covers ground fast.\u003c\/strong\u003e One plant spreads to 1.2m, so a small number closes a bare bed in a season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMonths of flower.\u003c\/strong\u003e The fan shaped pink blooms carry through the warm half of the year rather than one short burst.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade for hard positions.\u003c\/strong\u003e Heat, drought and salt spray are all handled, which suits hot driveway edges and exposed coastal beds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAustralian native, low maintenance.\u003c\/strong\u003e No spraying, no staking, and one trim a year keeps it dense.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 60cm apart for a dense groundcover. At that spacing the plants meet within a season and shade out most weed seedlings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRetaining walls and slopes.\u003c\/strong\u003e The trailing habit is at its best given an edge to fall over, so plant at the top of a wall or along a bank and let it spill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots, rockeries and coastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e It softens the rim of a pot or a hanging basket, threads between rocks, and holds up in a salt exposed seaside bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing fan flower in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun for the heaviest flowering, though it accepts a little afternoon shade. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it takes light frost only, so in cold districts grow it in a pot that can move under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining soil is the one requirement. Sandy and gravelly ground is ideal; on clay, mound the bed and add coarse grit rather than rich compost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. Feed lightly with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring, since overfeeding gives leaf growth instead of flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the whole plant back by about a third in late winter to stop the centre going woody and bare. A light trim after the main flush brings a second wave of flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one is grown as tube stock: young plants, usually a small rosette with a few trailing stems, which travel well because there is little top growth to damage. Small size is no disadvantage here, because fan flower is fast growing and a tube planted in spring will cover its patch by the end of the season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant within a few days of arrival, keep the water up for the first month, and expect flowers in the first season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-plants-for-ground-cover-a-guide-to-greenery\"\u003eChoosing the right groundcover plant\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the full groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003ePlants for rockeries and gravel gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-coastal-areas\"\u003ePlants for coastal and salt exposed gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 60cm spacing you need roughly three plants per square metre for a dense cover within a season. Stretch to 80cm if you are happy to wait a second year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy has the centre gone bare and woody?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is normal after two or three seasons if it is never cut. Shear the whole plant back by a third in late winter each year and it stays dense from the middle out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it handle frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. In cold inland and southern gardens it is better treated as a pot plant that can shelter under eaves for winter, or replanted each spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow it in a hanging basket?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, and it is one of the best natives for the job. Use a free draining mix, place it in full sun, and water more often than you would in the ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":51647839928639,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Royal-Robe-Fan-Flower-Scaevola-Pink-Perfection.png?v=1766224137"},{"product_id":"fan-flower-scaevola-purple-fanfare","title":"Fan Flower - Scaevola ‘Purple Fanfare’","description":"\u003cp\u003eFan Flower (\u003cem\u003eScaevola aemula\u003c\/em\u003e 'Purple Fanfare') is an Australian native groundcover that flowers almost without pause. It stays around 30cm high and spreads to about 90cm, with trailing stems covered in small purple flowers shaped like an open hand, hence the name. Fast growing, drought and salt tolerant, it holds a hot bank or coastal verge that most flowering groundcovers cannot survive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers for most of the year.\u003c\/strong\u003e The main flush is spring through summer, and in warm gardens it keeps going well beyond that.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt covers ground quickly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Spreading to 90cm, a small planting closes over a bed in one season rather than three.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAustralian native, and the bees know it.\u003c\/strong\u003e The flowers pull in bees and butterflies, useful understorey around fruit trees and vegetable beds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt for hard positions.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought, heat and salt tolerant, so it handles a hot driveway edge, a rockery or a beachside garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart, about six per square metre, and the stems knit together within a season. Wider spacing works but leaves gaps for weeds the first summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots, baskets and retaining walls.\u003c\/strong\u003e The trailing habit suits a hanging basket or the front edge of a large pot, cascading 30cm to 40cm over the rim. Use a free draining mix and full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens and borders.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerance makes it a real option for exposed beachside blocks, and the low height suits a soft path edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing fan flower in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun; in part shade it stretches, flowers less and looks thin. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid to semi-arid gardens, and takes light frost only, so in cold districts treat it as a warm season plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sandy or gravelly soil is ideal and poor soil is fine, but it will not accept wet feet. On clay, plant on a raised mound and skip the heavy compost, because rich soil produces leaf at the expense of flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week for the first six weeks, then only through extended dry spells. Feed lightly with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring, since high phosphorus damages the roots of Australian natives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim back by about a third after the main flush to keep it dense and bring on more buds. Old plants go woody in the centre after three or four years; a hard cut in early spring revives them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePurple Fanfare is sold as tube stock, a young plant with a well developed root system. It will not arrive in flower or near its 90cm spread, but tube stock is the right way to buy a fast growing groundcover: the value option for a bed or bank, and it covers its 40cm within the first warm season. It is currently on backorder, so check the lead time on this page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are packed upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Plant within a few days of arrival, water in well, and keep the moisture up for the first six weeks. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-plants-for-ground-cover-a-guide-to-greenery\"\u003eA guide to choosing groundcover plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the full groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-natives\"\u003eMore Australian native plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eSalt tolerant plants for coastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long does it live?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree to five years in the ground is realistic, longer if you cut it back annually. It is a short lived perennial rather than a shrub, so plan on refreshing a mass planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. A few degrees below zero on a still night burns the foliage but the plant usually recovers. Repeated heavy frost kills it, so in cold districts use a pot you can shift under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy has mine stopped flowering?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsually too much shade, water or fertiliser. Move it to full sun, ease off the watering once established, and trim back by a third to trigger fresh buds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":51647840780607,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":19.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Fan-Flower-Scaevola-Purple-Fanfare.png?v=1766224139"},{"product_id":"fan-flower-scaevola-purple-fusion","title":"Purple Fusion™ Fan Flower - Scaevola humilis 'PFS100' PBR","description":"\u003cp\u003eFan Flower 'Purple Fusion' (\u003cem\u003eScaevola aemula\u003c\/em\u003e 'Purple Fusion') is an Australian native groundcover that flowers for most of the year and asks almost nothing in return. It stays around 300mm tall and spreads to about 1m, carrying purple flowers shaped like a small open fan, each one split down one side. Planted 50cm apart it covers bare ground in a single season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers for months, not weeks.\u003c\/strong\u003e Purple fans appear from spring right through the warm season and often into the cooler months in mild gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt covers ground fast.\u003c\/strong\u003e Quick spreading stems close a 1m circle within a season, which crowds out weeds and saves on mulch.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDry, hot and salty suits it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought, heat and coastal salt are all handled once established, so it works on nature strips, rock walls and beachside beds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBees and butterflies find it.\u003c\/strong\u003e The open flowers are easy for pollinators to work, which makes it a useful plant along a vegetable garden edge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 50cm apart in a grid for a continuous purple carpet. On a slope, stagger the rows so the stems knit across the bank rather than down it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots, baskets and retaining walls.\u003c\/strong\u003e The stems trail rather than climb, so it spills neatly over the edge of a pot, a raised bed or a rock wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and coastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e As a front edging it softens hard lines and holds low, and its salt tolerance makes it a sensible choice for exposed seaside blocks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Fan Flower in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun gives the heaviest flowering. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. It takes light frost only, so in cold inland and southern districts treat it as a warm season plant or grow it in a pot that can shelter over winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining soil is essential, including sand and gravelly ground. On clay, plant into a raised bed or mound. It is one of the few natives that will genuinely rot in wet winter soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice weekly through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring. Overfeeding gives you soft leafy growth and fewer flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the whole planting back by about a third after the main flush, usually in late summer. That keeps the centre from going woody and bare, and it triggers a fresh round of flowering within a few weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is grown as tube stock and in 140mm pots sold in packs of ten. Tubes are young rooted plants and the sensible way to cover a large area, since a groundcover project usually needs numbers rather than size. The 140mm packs are further along and give quicker cover on smaller beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome stem breakage in transit is normal on a trailing plant and does no lasting harm. Trim the damaged tips, plant straight away, and expect flowering within the first warm season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-plants-for-ground-cover-a-guide-to-greenery\"\u003eChoosing a groundcover for your garden\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bee-and-butterfly-plants\"\u003eCompare bee and butterfly friendly plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-coastal-areas\"\u003ePlants suited to coastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many do I need per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 50cm spacing you need four plants per square metre. That closes over in roughly one warm season with regular water while they establish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I stop it going woody in the middle?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShear it back by a third after the main flowering flush each year. Left untrimmed the centre thins and the flowers retreat to the outer stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it handle frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. In cold gardens the top growth burns, and while established plants often reshoot in spring, it is safer to treat it as a warm season groundcover or grow it in a pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":51647841108287,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":19.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54140082094399,"sku":null,"price":203.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Fan-Flower-Scaevola-Purple-Fusion.png?v=1766224140"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/collections\/fan-flowers-collection.jpg?v=1791098191","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/collections\/fan-flowers.oembed","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}