Eremophila glabra – Orange Flowered Form is a very tough and adaptable, low-growing emu bush with smooth light green foliage and bright orange tubular flowers that can appear throughout the year. Growing to around 1.2 metres high and 1–2 metres wide, it forms a spreading shrub that is ideal for dry native gardens, wildlife plantings, borders, rockeries, low informal hedges and large containers.

This is a very tough eremophila, at Sylvaterre our oldest plant of this type has been split in half by a fat and lazy Wallaby and now both halves grow happily in dappled shade after 10 years in full sun. We have several eremophila plants that always seem to have flowers and they’re the backbone of our wildlife gardens. Like a lot of  Eremophilas this plant is best if pruned regularly from a young age so that it grows into a stronger and bushier garden feature.

This form is part of the highly variable Eremophila glabra group, one of the most useful and adaptable Eremophilas for gardens. It has the same toughness as many of the low-growing forms grown at Sylvaterre, with strong tolerance of drought, frost, lime and difficult soils once established. The smooth light green leaves give the plant a softer, fresher look than many silver-leaved forms, while the orange flowers provide a warm splash of colour against the foliage.

At Sylvaterre we also grow other low forms of Eremophila glabra, including a variety with dark green glossy foliage and yellow flowers, offering gardeners a choice of foliage texture and flower colour for different garden effects.

Flowers

• Bright orange tubular flowers produced for much of the year.
• Flowers may appear in all seasons when conditions are favourable.
• Nectar-rich blooms attract honeyeaters, native bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other beneficial insects.
• Excellent long-season colour for dry native gardens and habitat plantings.

Foliage

• Smooth light green leaves with a fresh, clean appearance.
• Low, spreading habit to around 1–2 metres wide.
• Forms a useful dense mound with pruning.
• Contrasts well with silver-leaved shrubs, native grasses and darker green foliage plants.

Cultivation

Soil:

Grows well in well-drained soils, including sandy, loamy, gravelly, clay loam and lime-influenced soils. Good drainage is preferred, but this species is generally more adaptable than many other Eremophilas.

Sunlight:

Best in full sun, where flowering and plant density are strongest. It will also tolerate light shade.

Watering:

Water regularly while establishing. Once established, it is highly drought tolerant and needs very little supplementary water. Occasional deep watering during extended dry periods can improve flowering and foliage quality.

Frost tolerance:

Frost tolerant once established.

Drought tolerance:

Highly drought tolerant once established and excellent for low-water gardens.

Pruning:

Responds well to pruning. Tip-prune young plants to encourage density, then lightly prune after flowering or as required to maintain a compact, spreading form.

Fertiliser:

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

Uses

• Hardy low shrub for dry native gardens.
• Excellent bird-attracting and pollinator-friendly plant.
• Suitable for large pots and containers with free-draining potting mix.
• Useful for borders, rockeries, verges and low informal hedges.
• Good for lime-influenced soils and low-maintenance landscapes.
• Suitable for coastal, inland, semi-arid and waterwise gardens.
• Can be used as a spreading feature shrub or low habitat plant.

Habitat Value

Eremophila glabra – Orange Flowered Form is highly valuable in wildlife gardens. Its long flowering period provides nectar for honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds, while also supporting native bees, butterflies, hoverflies and beneficial insects.

The low, spreading foliage gives shelter to small invertebrates and helps create a protective lower layer in habitat plantings. Because it flowers across much of the year, it is especially useful for maintaining nectar availability through seasonal gaps when fewer native shrubs are in bloom.

Growing Tips

Plant in a sunny, well-drained position and water through the first summer to establish a strong root system. Once established, this is a very low-maintenance plant that tolerates drought, frost and lime-influenced soils.

Tip-prune when young to encourage a dense, compact shape. For pots, use a free-draining native potting mix and avoid saucers that hold water. This form looks especially good planted with silver foliage plants, native grasses, purple-flowered Eremophilas or darker green shrubs.

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.