How to Grow Scaevola, Bombay Blue
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Scaevola, Bombay Blue
Scaevola aemula 'Bombay Blue'
flowerBombay Blue is a cultivar of fan flower known for its vibrant blue, fan-shaped blooms and trailing habit. It's a tender perennial often grown as an annual in temperate climates, prized for hanging baskets, containers, and garden beds. The compact, spreading growth habit and prolific flowering make it a popular ornamental choice for sunny garden areas.
When should you plant Scaevola, Bombay Blue in your zone?
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Example Scaevola, Bombay Blue timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Scaevola, Bombay Blue
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Scaevola, Bombay Blue blooms
Around May 17≈ 30 days after planting
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Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 10-11; grown as an annual in cooler zones
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Get my Scaevola, Bombay Blue timeline →Growth Stages
Germination
7-14 daysTiny seedlings emerge with first true leaves appearing. Very delicate at this stage.
Keep soil consistently moist, provide bright light, maintain warmth (65-75°F), and ensure good air circulation to prevent damping off.
Seedling & Establishment
2-3 weeksFirst sets of true leaves develop; plant begins to establish root system. Growth is still relatively slow.
Maintain moisture without waterlogging, provide bright indirect light initially, then transition to full sun. Begin light fertilizing once first true leaves appear.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlant develops branching stems and more foliage. Trailing habit becomes apparent as stems spread outward.
Pinch back growing tips to encourage bushier, more compact growth. Maintain consistent watering and feeding. Provide full sun exposure.
Flowering
8-16 weeks (can extend longer with proper care)Distinctive fan-shaped blue flowers begin appearing in abundance along stems. Blooming becomes prolific with proper care.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. Maintain consistent watering and weekly feeding with balanced or flowering fertilizer. Ensure full sun exposure.
Peak Performance & Maintenance
Ongoing through seasonPlant reaches mature size with constant flowering throughout the season. Growth may slow slightly in peak summer heat in some climates.
Continue deadheading, watering, and feeding. Provide afternoon shade in extremely hot climates (over 95°F) to prevent stress. Cut back leggy growth as needed.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water to dislodge, use neem oil or insecticidal soap, improve humidity around plants
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, ensure good air circulation
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Spray with strong water stream, use insecticidal soap, apply neem oil, introduce beneficial insects
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Improve air circulation, reduce leaf wetness, spray with fungicidal soap or sulfur, remove affected leaves
Uses
Not for consumption
CulinaryScaevola is not edible and should not be ingested by humans or pets. [source]
Container and hanging basket displays
HouseholdBombay Blue's trailing habit and prolific flowering make it ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, and container gardening where it creates cascading masses of blue flowers. Its compact size suits mixed containers and patio arrangements. [source]
Landscape borders and edging
HouseholdUse Bombay Blue as edging along flower beds, pathways, and borders where its low-spreading habit creates attractive blue accents. The trailing stems can drape attractively over raised beds and garden edges. [source]
Pollinator support
WildlifeThe fan-shaped flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators throughout the growing season, making it valuable for supporting local pollinator populations in gardens. [source]
Fresh flower arrangements
CraftIndividual sprays of Bombay Blue can be used in fresh flower arrangements and bouquets to add blue color and unique fan-shaped texture, though flowers are small and delicate. [source]
Harvest Tips
Scaevola Bombay Blue is an ornamental flower, not harvested for food. For extending bloom time, deadhead faded flowers regularly by pinching off flower heads just below the calyx. Cut back the plant by one-third in mid-summer if it becomes leggy to encourage renewed branching and flowering.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Scaevola is named after the Roman hero Mucius Scaevola, whose name means 'left-handed' in Latin. The fan-shaped flower is distinctly one-sided, resembling a left hand, which inspired the botanical name.
- 🌱 Bombay Blue was developed as a cultivar selection for superior blue flower color and trailing habit, making it more ornamental than the wild species form, which has more variable flower colors.
- 🌱 Scaevola aemula is native to Australia and is sometimes called 'fairy fan flower' due to its delicate, uniquely shaped blooms that somewhat resemble tiny fans or hands.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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