In this post I am adding to my Eremophila database and also trying to increase awareness of native plants which I believe have proven to be reasonably drought hardy. As a genus Eremophilas are very tough native shrubs, they will grow in a well drained soil in full sun to part shade and although they mainly come from Western and South Australia many of them cope quite well on the east coast.

This first Eremophila is a form of glabra called ‘Murchison Magic’, there are many forms of Eremophila glabra with the soft furry silver leaf, they are very tolerant of coastal conditions.

Eremophila glabra ‘Murchison Magic’ grows into a dense medium shrub between 1 and 3 metres wide by the same high, it is a drought hardy Waterwise plant once established.

This second Emu Bush is Eremophila longifolia as you can see in the image above it has lovely long drooping leaves which make it a graceful open shrub.

Eremophila longifolia grows naturally all over Australia mainly in arid zones but is highly adaptable to residential gardens.  It will grow to around 3 to 4 metres high but can be pruned to shape.

It will grow on different types of soil, survives in areas with high temperatures and copes well with variable and unpredictable rainfall patterns, dense its ability to cope with our continuing erratic climate crisis.

So why not try one of these Eremophila species in your native garden to add wildlife habitat, food for birds and insects and year round colour and foliage contrast, once established they shouldn’t be too fussy about things like regular rainfall 😉

Comments

6 responses to “Drought Hardy Emu Bush”

  1. antonio torres

    Good day,
    I live in Curacao in the Caribbean, which is dry arid tropical in nature. These eremophila seem quite suitable for our climate. Could you recommend a shop that sells seed of these varieties? Appreciate your help if possible.

    Best regards, Tonio.

  2. Janice Chambers

    I live in South Australia and have been trying to purchase an Eremophila Hutchison Magic for some time. Any info on where I might purchase this

  3. Janice Chambers

    I live in South Australia and have been trying to purchase an eremophila Murchison Magic for some time. Any help or info on where I might purchase this.

  4. Lyndall

    I have just started a native garden project of grevilleas and eremophilas and Murchison Magic was one I purchased. I am really excited to see how they will all go and grow, and all the birds and insects that they will attract.

  5. Kylie

    Thank you always for your awesome content, I love reading your updates. I am in Woodend, Victoria and I am trialing a few Eremophila’s. We can get a nasty frost, my Eremophila ‘Kalbarri Carpet’ is struggling and is only just alive, I will cut back when the weather warms up to get it going again. A stand out with the frost has been the Eremophila glabra ‘Red’ which is surprising as its noted as hardy to ‘Light Frosts’.

    Would you have any Frost Hardy Eremophila suggestions?

    1. Kath Gadd

      Hi Kylie,

      Perhaps Kalbarri Carpet is struggling because of its groundcover nature, it would really bear the brunt of frost. I would expect most E. glabra cultivars to do quite well (as your ‘Red’ evidently is). Some others I’d reccommend for your climate are:
      – E. maculata e.g. ‘Pink Passion’
      – E glabra e.g. ‘Murchison Magic’
      – E. calorhabdos
      – E. brevifolia

      Best of luck,
      Kath

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