Scaevola (Beach Naupaka)
Scaevola species and hybrids. GOODENIACEAE.
Planting and Growing Scaevola
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow scaevola in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of scaevola
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for scaevola
- Season of bloom and planting time for scaevola
- When, how deep, and where to plant scaevola
- How to plant scaevola
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of scaevola
- Landscape and container uses of scaevola
- Comments about scaevola and its features
Growing Scaevola
Several hybrids and cultivars of variously erect or low and spreading or trailing, semi-evergreen or evergreen perennial herbs and shrubs, to 6 in. (15 cm) tall in prostrate species, 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall in shrub species. Fleshy, smooth, green, pink, oval, rounded leaves, 1–6 in. (25–150 mm) long, depending on species, on fleshy stems.
Common cultivars include Australian scaevola, Scaevola aemula; beach naupaka, Scaevola taccada; and fan flower, Scaevola X ‘Mauve Clusters’.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many showy, blue, pink, purple, white, open, flat-faced flowers, 1–3 in. (25–75 mm) wide, in summer.
Best Climates
Tender. Zones 7–11.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp to dry, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Average. 6.5–8.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun, 18–24 in. (45–60 cm) apart for prostrate species, 6 ft. (1.8 m) apart for shrub species.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist until established; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Drought, salt, wind tolerant. Fertilize annually in spring. Protect from frost. Propagate by cuttings, division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents, hanging baskets, containers, ground covers, paths in arid, natural, seaside gardens. Slug, snail and fungal disease susceptible.