Scaevola ramosissima
hairy fan-flower
Overview
Scaevola ramosissima is a perennial herb or low subshrub with a straggling, spreading habit, growing 12-35 inches (30-90 cm) tall and as wide. The wiry stems are clothed in coarse, spreading hairs, sometimes with a reddish tinge. Leaves are alternate, narrow to oblong, 0.8-2.5 inches (2-6 cm) long, with toothed margins and a rough, hairy surface. The flowers are fan-shaped, with five lobes spread to one side of the corolla in a single plane, blue to purple with a paler or yellowish throat, and measure 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) across. Flowering extends from late winter through summer. The fan arrangement of the petals gives the genus and its common name. Growth is rapid but the stems are weak and tend to scramble over surrounding vegetation rather than stand erect. Small fleshy fruits follow flowering. Plants are short-lived, often persisting 3-5 years, and become sparse and open with age.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from southern Queensland through New South Wales into eastern Victoria. Grows in heathland, dry sclerophyll forest, and woodland on sandy or gravelly, well-drained soils, often in disturbed or recently burnt ground.Suggested Uses
Grown in native, rockery, and informal cottage-style plantings where it can scramble among other low shrubs, spaced 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart. Used on embankments and in revegetation of sandy sites. The sprawling habit makes it less suited to formal or closely edged beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'11"
Width/Spread1' - 2'11"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowers from August to March in its native range, with the main flush in spring and early summer. Individual flowers last several days; the loose flowering period extends over 8-12 weeks per plant. Flowering is heavier in the seasons following fire or soil disturbance.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
blue to purpleFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-9 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to light shade in sharply drained sandy or gravelly soils. Established plants tolerate dry periods but flower more freely with occasional summer water. The weak stems benefit from low neighbouring plants for support, and isolated plants sprawl across the ground. Few pests trouble it, though crown and root rot develop in wet, heavy soils. Plants are short-lived and are often replaced or allowed to self-seed every few years.Pruning
Cutting back straggly stems by up to one half after the main flowering flush encourages denser regrowth. Plants left untrimmed become open and woody at the base. Light tip pruning during the growing season promotes branching.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons