Eremophila

Native eremophilas make spectacular garden plants, with beautiful flowers and bird-attracting nectar, but you need to go easy on the water, says JOSH BYRNE

Digging into the meaning of a plant’s name can be revealing. Botanists are a practical bunch, often basing a name on an obvious physical feature. In the case of eremophila – a genus loved for their beautiful flowers – the name comes from the Greek word eremophilos, meaning ‘desert lover’. With more than 200 species, found mainly in arid regions, it’s a good fit.

Common names are also informative. ‘Emu bush’ refers to the fact that these birds feed on the fleshy fruit of certain species, and ‘poverty bush’ reflects the ability of some species to survive the continent’s toughest conditions, when almost nothing else will. The common name of fuchsia bush, which is used less frequently, is perhaps the most appealing, because it describes the flowers, which resemble their namesake.

Eremophilas are a diverse group, including species of all shapes and sizes, from groundcovers and shrubs through to small trees. About 80 per cent of the species occur in Western Australia in areas with low rainfall and temperature extremes, from baking hot summers to frosty cold winters. Their tolerance for these conditions, combined with showy flowers, make eremophilas an attractive prospect for horticulture, and a number of species have been cultivated, with selection and breeding work undertaken to improve their form and flowering.

Well-known for showy displays and for attracting birds and insects, they are great in the garden, but they love dry conditions, and too much water can be their downfall.

care & cultivation

The most important consideration when growing eremophilas is drainage, especially in areas outside their preferred arid range. They like plenty of sun, as well as dry heat. For me, gardening on the coastal soils of Fremantle, with our hot, dry summers, this is not a problem. But if you are in

a cool climate with heavy soils, or a region that has wet summers, you’ll need to push the boundaries for success.

Choose a location in full sun – the more hours of direct sunlight, the better. Next, think drainage. If necessary, bring in some free-draining sand. The depth should be at least half a metre and the sub-grade (natural soil underneath) should be profiled, so that water drains away, rather than pooling. In humid areas, try to find a spot that is well ventilated.

The use of gravel, rather than organic mulches, can also help both with drainage and reducing humidity around the base of plants. Drip irrigation is preferred – if you are handwatering, be careful to avoid wetting the foliage. Go easy on the fertiliser and use a native blend, as directed.

Growing in pots with a free-draining mix is an effective way to improve drainage. This also makes it easy to locate the plant in an appropriately sunny, airy position.

Grafting eremophilas onto a suitable rootstock, such as coast boobialla (Myoporum insulare), helps plants cope better with heavy, wet soils. Grafted plants are more expensive to buy, but with a bit of practice, you can learn to do it yourself.

I recently planted three eremophilas that demonstrate the versatility of the genus. Firstly, I chose E. glabra ‘Kalbarri Carpet’ as a proven grey-foliaged groundcover, which will ramble alongside other native shrubs in this part of my garden. Nearby, I planted the cultivar E. ‘Mallee Fab’, which is a small shrub, up to 2m high. This will produce masses of apricot-coloured flowers to attract nectar-feeding birds.

Finally, I potted up a variety of E. nivea called ‘Spring Mist’ (above right). The grey, fluffy foliage of this plant is reason enough to grow it, but it really comes into its own when the purple flowers appear from late winter until early summer. I have placed it in a prominent sunny spot, so I will see it often and it will brighten my day.