Eremophila The Emu Bush

Imagine desolate rocky outcrops lashed by searing winds. Picture if you can, an ocean of blood red sand dunes stretching to the horizon in every direction. Try to visualize barren dry watercourses overhung by graceful weeping trees. These are the places in Australia where white men can barely survive and many have perished lost in the wilderness, are the places where Eremophilas are found.
Eremophilas are an enormously diverse group of plants, varying from flat self-layering groundcovers to jewel-like compact shrubs, to graceful broom-like shrubs, to very flowery small weeping trees. There are more than 200 named species in a myriad of different forms and over one thousand showy cultivars, with many more yet to be given scientific names. Leaf color in Eremophilas can vary from snowy white, to soft gray, to blue green, to lettuce green, to shades of silver. Their tubular flowers are a riot of color including spotted white, to soft pink, every shade of red, yellow, orange, burgundy, hot purple, soft blue, deep blue, violet, indigo and even blackish shades. Some flowers are surrounded by colorful bracts that make them appear to be doubles. Within Eremophila, many species are specialized to attract birds wherever they are planted in the world, while over a hundred species are very attractive to insects.

Eremophila is derived from two Greek words, eremos meaning desert or lonely places, and philos meaning to love. Eremophila means desert loving. Common names for these plants include Emu bush, Poverty bushes and even Desert Pride. Poverty bush refers to the ability of many to survive in very dry, inhospitable environments.

All species are endemic (occur only here) to Australia and they are generally plants of semi-arid to arid regions. The plants do produce rather hard dry fruits often eaten by birds and animals. The common name, Emu bush, derives from the erroneous belief that fruits are commonly eaten by emus which is not true. Some also believed that the passage through the bird aided in germination which also seems to be false. Despite the fact that very few of the species are eaten by emus, the name has stuck.

Eremophila is part of a larger family of about 5 genera known as Myoporaceae. The members of this genera are usually small to medium shrubs although a few may be large shrubs or small trees. Those species which occur in the harshest of climates have developed methods to cope with the severe conditions. Many have grayish, hairy foliage which reflect the sun's rays while other have a shiny, sticky coating on the foliage as a protection against drying winds.

Flowers are more or less tubular with upper and lower lips and are reasonably large, often very colorful sometimes spotted. In some species, the corolla (the tube of petals) may also have a large and attractive calyx (those parts below the petals). These features have resulted in a number of species being cultivated as ornamental plants in suitable climates. Flowers occur in the leaf axils. Leaves can be either alternate or opposite.

Once established, they are very drought tolerant and rarely require much artificial watering. With many different forms, growth habits and flower colors, Eremophilas can be used for many different purposes in the garden. In addition, the flowers of many species produce nectar and are excellent for attracting birds.

In cultivation, all species perform best in well-drained soils and rarely succeed in continually wet soils. Shallow clay soils can present problems. Many species tolerate alkaline soils. Eremophilas are generally at their best in open, sunny positions with good air circulation. Many are adaptable to humid climates but those with hairy foliage may be subject to fungal diseases is those areas and are best avoided.

Emu bushes are not demanding as far as fertilization is concerned but do respond to applications of slow release fertilizer after flowering. If desired, the plants can be pruned back by about one third after flowering to promote a bushy habit of growth.

Most occur in semi-arid and arid regions in deep sands, rocky and gravelly loams and mostly in areas of neutral to alkaline pH. Some are capable of surviving for periods of 1-2 years without rainfall

Some are ground hugging and can form roots at nodes. Some have even been used for medicinal purposes.

Basic cultivation requirements are good to excellent drainage and usually plenty of sun. They do not appreciate long periods of overcast humid weather and usually prove unsuccessful in moist tropical and high rainfall temperate zones.

Most species will tolerate light to medium frosts while differences are exhibited in hardiness depending upon the origin of the species in Australia with inland forms more hardy than coastal forms.

In wetter areas, better drainage has been provided by planting them on built-up soil mounds. Eremophila laanii and racemosa have benefited from this procedure in wetter areas.

They can also make excellent container plants in areas where the climate may be unsuitable. Scale insects can be a problem especially on species with sticky branches and leaves.

General observations include:

Few diseases and fungi attack this group in the southwest. Even though the soil is neutral with a pH ranging around 8, there usually are no signs of chlorosis. Root rot has not seemed to be a problem.

There seem to be no insect pests other than an occasional scale or aphid. Rodents could cause a problem.

Early establishment of these plants is critical to later growth. Plants that were planted in root-bound condition or were not given adequate watering the first season have difficulty getting established.

It is usually easier to get them established in heavier soils than in sandy soils but those heavier soils need to be well drained.

If they are to be planted in sandy soils, mulching may help to push roots down to where there is available moisture.

Just in case you might have been concerned about the potential for invasive behavior, Eremophilas set fertile seed infrequently, and this seed is notoriously difficult to germinate, thus they are unlikely to ever become weeds. The cultivation of eremophilas in their myriad varieties is habit forming however and is best treated by planting more of them. We hope you enjoy these wonderful treasures, which are amongst the crown jewels of Australian plants.

Here is a list of frequently grown species of the Eremophila.