Eremophila glabra ‘Bev Rice’ is a hardy, fast-growing form of emu bush prized for its shimmering silvery-grey foliage, neat spreading habit, and masses of nectar-rich tubular flowers. Flower colour is typically yellow to orange, sometimes with green-yellow tones, creating a warm contrast against the pale foliage from autumn through spring.

Growing to around 1 m high and 1.2–1.5 m wide, this low-maintenance shrub forms a dense, spreading mound that responds beautifully to pruning. With regular tip-pruning, it can be maintained as a compact feature shrub, low border, informal hedge, or foliage contrast plant. Once established, it is highly resilient, tolerating drought, frost, clay soils, lime, and mild coastal conditions.

This is an excellent “set-and-forget” plant for dry native gardens, verges, rockeries, coastal gardens, wildlife plantings, and larger containers where drainage is reliable.

Flowers

• Tubular flowers, usually yellow to orange, sometimes green-yellow.
• Flowering occurs mainly from autumn to spring.
• Nectar-rich blooms attract honeyeaters, native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
• Provides valuable cool-season nectar when many other shrubs are not in flower.

Foliage

• Beautiful silvery-grey foliage with a soft shimmering effect.
• Dense, spreading growth habit to around 1.2–1.5 m wide.
• Fast-growing, with growth of up to around 60 cm per year in good conditions.
• Excellent contrast plant among darker green shrubs, grasses, and groundcovers.

Cultivation

Soil:

Requires well-drained soil, but is adaptable once established. Suitable for sandy, loamy, clay loam, lime-influenced, and mildly alkaline soils where drainage is adequate.

Sunlight:

Thrives in full sun to partial shade. Best foliage density and flowering are usually achieved in a sunny position.

Watering:

Water regularly while establishing, especially through the first 8–12 weeks. Once established, it becomes highly drought resistant and usually requires only occasional deep watering during extended dry periods.

Frost tolerance:

Frost tolerant once established.

Drought tolerance:

Highly drought tolerant once established and well suited to low-water gardens.

Pruning:

Responds extremely well to pruning. Tip-prune after flowering to keep the plant neat, dense, and compact. It can also be harder-pruned in late winter if reshaping is needed.

Fertiliser:

Use a low-phosphorus native fertiliser sparingly in spring if required. Avoid overfeeding and avoid prolonged waterlogging.

Uses

• Low feature shrub for dry native gardens.
• Excellent silver foliage contrast plant.
• Suitable for large pots and containers with free-draining potting mix.
• Useful for borders, verges, rockeries, and coastal gardens.
• Can be maintained as a low informal hedge or mounded shrub.
• Valuable in bird-attracting and habitat-focused gardens.
• Low-maintenance choice for waterwise landscapes.

Habitat Value

Eremophila glabra ‘Bev Rice’ is a valuable nectar plant for wildlife gardens. Its tubular flowers attract honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds, while also supporting native bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and beneficial insects.

The dense spreading foliage provides shelter for insects and small garden fauna, while the plant’s drought and frost tolerance make it a reliable habitat shrub through difficult seasons. Its long flowering period from autumn to spring adds important seasonal nectar to mixed native plantings.

Growing Tips

Plant in a sunny, well-drained position and water regularly while young. Once established, reduce watering and allow the plant to adapt to local conditions.

Tip-pruning is strongly recommended to maintain a neat, tight, bushy form. This plant can be shaped into a dense mound, low hedge, or spreading border shrub. In pots, use a free-draining native potting mix and avoid saucers that hold water.

For best effect, plant near dark green foliage, native grasses, or flowering shrubs where the silvery-grey leaves can provide strong contrast.

Sylvaterre Eremophila Range

Sylvaterre Native Nursery grows the largest and most diverse collection of Eremophila plants on the east coast of Australia, with more than 50 different species and forms available at different times of the year. From rare collector’s plants to hardy garden performers, our Eremophila range is ideal for drought-tolerant, bird-attracting, and habitat-focused native gardens.

Shipping Note

At Sylvaterre Native Nursery, every plant is treated with care and respect. Unlike many online nurseries that ship tubestock lying flat — often stacked on top of each other in standard Australia Post boxes — all Sylvaterre plants are shipped upright in custom-made cardboard plant boxes. This helps ensure they arrive healthy, happy, and ready to thrive in your garden or pots. See our shipping cartons in the image gallery.