Eremophila nivea is a lovely native shrub that does really well in the drier areas of the country. It has lovely silvery foliage and purple tubular flowers. These appear during spring and summer.
This plant is perfectly adapted to live in the drier regions of Australia but does not do all that well in more humid areas where it can be more susceptible to fungal diseases.
However, there are now also grafted varieties available that will grow better in humid regions. These have been grafted onto Myoporum rootstock.
Eremophila nivea: Basic Information
- Common Name: Emu Bush, Silky Eremophila
- Scientific Name: Eremophila nivea
- Origin: Western Australia
- Family: Scrophulariaceae
- Subfamily: Myoporaceae
Appearance and Features
- General Description: Small shrub with a dense, compact growth habit
- Size: Typically grows up to 1 metre in height and width
- Leaves: Silvery-gray, narrow leaves that are evergreen
- Flower: Small, tubular flowers that are usually white or pale pink, appearing in spring and summer
How to Grow Eremophila nivea
Light requirements
The emu bush prefers to grow in a nice sunny spot in your garden. It will survive in a partly shaded position that gets plenty of morning sun and some afternoon shade.
Temperature and humidity
Eremophila nivea is ideal for growing in warm temperate, Mediterranean, semi-arid and arid climate zones. It does not like cold weather or high humidity and is frost-tender, especially when young.
However, once the plant becomes well-established, it can tolerate light frost.
Soil requirements
The emu bush is not all that fussy about the type of soil you have as long as it’s free-draining. Being a drought-tolerant plant, it does not like having wet feet.
In areas with plenty of rainfall, it’s better to grow emu bush in a raised mound or even in a pot filled with premium potting mix and plenty of drainage holes.
If you like to mulch your garden beds like I do, consider using stones or pebbles rather than pine bark. This is because the bark is more likely to harbour fungal spores than the stones or pebbles.
This will also mimic the natural growing conditions of the plant better.
Water requirements
Eremophila nivea is very drought-tolerant and won’t need supplementary watering once it has become established.
Newly planted shrubs should be watered in the beginning but make sure you allow the soil to drain freely and dry before giving the plant more water.
When watering, make sure to only apply the water to the soil at the base of the plant and avoid wetting the foliage. This will reduce the risk of fungal diseases taking hold.
Fertiliser
Like most Australian native plants, the emu bush can be sensitive to phosphorus. Therefore, you only want to use a low-phosphorus fertiliser that is primarily designed for Australian natives.
An annual application in early spring is sufficient for this plant.
Pruning
Your emu bush will benefit from light pruning in autumn after the flowers have finished. Just tip-prune the plant all over.
This will encourage plenty of new growth and you’ll be rewarded with a lovely floral flush in spring.
Take care not to cut back into the hardwood as no new growth will appear from the woody stems.
Problems, pests and diseases
As already mentioned, the emu bush can be susceptible to fungal diseases in areas of high humidity. If you live in a more coastal region or experience lengthy periods of high humidity, select one of the grafted plants as these will fare better.
One of the better-grafted cultivars that is relatively hardy is Eremophila nivea ‘Blue Velvet’.
If your plant does succumb to a fungal disease attack, let the soil dry out completely before watering. As fungal diseases can be difficult to control, you might need to replace the plant with a new one.
However, it would be wise to choose a different spot or at least mound up the soil in order to facilitate better drainage.
How to grow Eremophila nivea in a pot
If you happen to live anywhere along the east coast, you might like to try growing the emu bush in a pot as it may prefer this.
Select a large pot that is around twice the size of the plant you’ve purchased. Make sure that the pot has plenty of drainage holes.
Fill the pot with premium quality potting but make sure the mix is fairly loose and drains well. To assist even further with drainage, I would suggest mixing some builder’s sand into the potting mix.
You can add a thin layer of stones or pebbles on the surface of the mix if you wish.
Place your potted plant in a nice sunny spot in your garden. Only water just after planting and when the top 5 to 10 cm of the soil is dry.
Feed your emu bush with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring to encourage new growth and lots of blooms.
Tip-prune the plant in autumn once the flowers have finished.
Other Eremophila varieties you might like to try
There are over 260 different species of Eremophila that are native to Australia. Here are some of the more common ones that should be available at native plant nurseries around the country.
Eremophila glabra (Tar Bush)
This is a lovely medium shrub that has gorgeous orange and yellow tubular flowers. The foliage is also silver in colour and lovely and soft.
Eremophila biserrata (Prostrate Eremophila)
You can grow this species as a ground cover over dry garden beds. The stems will spread over the ground and feature bright green serrated leaves. The flowers are green and yellow.
Eremophila laanii (Pink Beauty)
This species has the prettiest pink tubular flowers. It has a slightly taller growth habit than Eremophila nivea and can even grow into a small tree.
Eremophila maculata
This is quite a popular species and has amazing large dark red tubular flowers. The foliage is a deep green colour. This variety can be grown as a low hedge and is very attractive to nectar-loving birds.
Eremophila platycalyx
This lovely species has green to grey foliage and flowers that start as dark pink buds and open to reveal pale pink to white petals. Depending on where this is grown, it can flower from summer and through into winter.
Eremophila subfloccosa (Dense-felted Eremophila)
Similar to Eremophila nivea, this species has silvery-white foliage that is densely covered with hairs. This gives it a soft and almost velvety feel. The tubular flowers are generally greenish-yellow in colour.
FAQ
How big does Emu Bush grow?
The emu bush can reach a height and width of around 1.5 metres.
Is Emu Bush native to Australia?
Yes, the emu bush is native to Australia and grows naturally in Western Australia. However, it is now quite rare to find it growing naturally and is listed as endangered under the EPBC Act.
Does Emu Bush need full sun?
Emu bush prefers to grow in full sun but can handle some afternoon shade in hot and dry areas.