The Heat-Tolerant Flower That Will Love Bright, Warm Spots In The Garden

Finding just the right plant for a bright, warm spot in the garden means you'll want to look for species that enjoy the heat and don't threaten to hang their heads as soon as the sun hits them. Luckily for you, there's an excellent heat-tolerant flower originating from Australia that's going to revel in that bright, sunny spot and delight you with a magnificent display of colorful blooms in summer — the fan flower (Scaevola aemula).

This gorgeous herbaceous perennial simply adores hot, dry summer climates that resemble its native habitat. Of course, this means it can be grown as a perennial only in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 11, but you can easily grow it as a summer annual if you live in a different zone. Fan flower also does well in pots, so you could grow it in a container to brighten up your sun-drenched patio and then bring it indoors over the colder months. 

You'll even find that this plant is one of those hanging basket flowers that will look perfect on your porch. The soft green leaves have toothed margins, while the flowers are very distinctive, with their petals arranged in a fan shape. The main floral color of the species is a pretty purple, but thanks to the 'Whirlwind' range of cultivars bred by Proven Winners, there are hybrids available in shades of white, pink, and blue as well.

Ideally, you want to plant fan flower in spring once soil temperatures reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This will allow you to appreciate those outstanding blooms right through the warmer months, because Scaevola can easily be grown as a flowering annual that can last all summer. As this plant reaches a height of only around 14 inches, with a spread up to 24 inches, it's perfect for the outer borders of your garden bed. It does have a trailing habit, which makes it superb as a ground cover or for spilling over rocks if your garden design incorporates a more arid landscape.

If your soil contains organic matter, there's no need to give fan flower any additional fertilizer. Keep in mind that many Australian native plants are sensitive to phosphorus, so avoid adding this to the soil. Once you've planted your fan flower, water it in, but then let the soil dry out before rewatering to avoid root rot. Remember that this plant is very drought-tolerant, so it shouldn't need much extra watering unless you're going through a long period of no rainfall. 

Another benefit of this hardy plant is that it's self-cleaning, which means you don't even have to deadhead the spent blooms. Plus, prolific and colorful flowers will attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to your yard. Finally, if you're looking for some additional plants to fill in spaces, you may like to explore a range of gorgeous flowers to consider planting when you have no shade in your yard.