Scaevola taccada
Scaevola taccada
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Prefers a position in full sun, but tolerates some shade[1].. Grows best in a sandy soil. Plants are very salt and wind tolerant[2]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[1]. The fruits are dispersed by frugivorous birds and sea-currents. They are buoyant because of a corky outer layer and can float in sea water for at least 250 days with no significant loss in viability[2]. The plant has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in Florida[3]. The plant flowers and fruits throughout the year[2]. Plants are very tolerant of trimming and can be shaped into hedges[1].
Propagation
Seed - preferably pre-soaked in cool water for 24 hours and then covered lightly by soil in a well-drained potting mix[2]. Germination may take 3 - 9 months[2]. Seeds that have been soaked in saltwater are said to germinate better, reducing germination time by 1 - 2 weeks[2, 4]. Cuttings can be up to 50 cm long, with the lower leaves removed, and the upper ones cut in half[2]. Planting should be in a light well-drained potting mix or a sandy soil, with watering once a day. Rooting should be achieved in 2 - 3 months[2] Large branches can also be used as cuttings as long as they are kept moist until rooted[4]. Air layering[2]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Scaevola+taccada>
Pollinators
Bes, wasps
References
- [1]Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida — University of Florida · http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/ ↩︎PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
- [2]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
- [3]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
- [4]Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database — http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp ↩︎Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
- [5]The Useful Plants of the Island of Guam — Safford W.E. · Smithsonian Institute; Washington. · 1905 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ ↩︎A very comprehensive, if rather dated, guide to the plants of Guam. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
- [6]Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea — World Health Organisation · 2009 · ISBN 978-92-9061-249-0 ↩︎Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants.
- [7]Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability — W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors) · United Nations University Press, Tokyo · 1993 · http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents · ISBN 92-808-0824-9 ↩︎The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.