Eremophila maculata – South Australian ‘Riverland’ Variety is a rare regional form of the much-loved Spotted Emu Bush, naturally occurring only in the South Australian Riverland region. Listed as Rare, this form is a valuable collector’s plant as well as a tough, garden-worthy shrub for dry native gardens, habitat plantings and challenging inland conditions.

Growing to around 1.5 metres high and 1.5 metres wide, it forms a compact to rounded shrub with tubular flowers in shades of orange to red. Flowering is strongest from winter through summer, with lighter spot flowering possible throughout the year. The long flowering season provides excellent colour and reliable nectar for wildlife.

This Riverland form is particularly useful for difficult soils and dry gardens. Once established, it is very frost tolerant, drought tolerant, salt tolerant and lime tolerant, and will grow in clay and loam soils where drainage is suitable. It is a superb choice for inland gardens, semi-arid landscapes, wildlife gardens, native borders and large containers.

Flowers

• Tubular flowers in warm orange to red tones.
• Main flowering period from winter to summer.
• Lighter flowering may occur sporadically throughout the year.
• Nectar-rich flowers attract honeyeaters, native bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other beneficial insects.

Foliage

• Evergreen foliage on a compact, rounded shrub.
• Naturally dense habit can be improved with light pruning.
• Provides year-round structure and shelter in habitat gardens.
• Useful as a mid-sized shrub for mixed Eremophila plantings and dry native borders.

Cultivation

Soil:

Highly adaptable. Suitable for clay, loam, lime-influenced and mildly saline soils, provided drainage is adequate. It will also grow in sandy or gravelly soils. Avoid prolonged waterlogging.

Sunlight:

Best grown in full sun for strongest flowering and compact growth. It will tolerate light shade, although flowering may be reduced.

Watering:

Water regularly while establishing. Once established, it is highly drought tolerant and requires little supplementary watering except during extended dry periods.

Frost tolerance:

Very frost tolerant once established, making it suitable for inland and cool-climate native gardens.

Drought tolerance:

Highly drought tolerant once established and ideal for waterwise, semi-arid and low-maintenance landscapes.

Salt and lime tolerance:

This form tolerates salt and lime, making it especially useful for difficult inland soils and exposed garden sites.

Pruning:

Tip-prune young plants to encourage branching, then lightly prune after flowering to maintain a dense, rounded shape and encourage fresh flowering growth.

Fertiliser:

Use a low-phosphorus native fertiliser sparingly in spring if required. Avoid overfeeding and avoid wet, poorly drained conditions.

Uses

• Rare collector’s form of Eremophila maculata.
• Excellent shrub for dry native gardens and semi-arid landscapes.
• Suitable for large pots and containers with free-draining mix.
• Useful for clay, loam, lime-influenced and mildly saline soils.
• Great as a compact feature shrub, informal hedge or mixed border plant.
• Valuable in bird-attracting and habitat-focused gardens.
• Ideal for gardens needing a hardy, frost-tolerant and drought-tolerant native shrub.

Habitat Value

Eremophila maculata – South Australian ‘Riverland’ Variety is an excellent nectar plant for wildlife gardens. Its orange to red tubular flowers are highly suited to honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds, while also attracting native bees, butterflies, hoverflies and beneficial insects.

Because it flowers heavily from winter to summer and may continue lightly through the rest of the year, this form helps provide food across multiple seasons. Its dense evergreen foliage also offers shelter for small birds, insects and other garden fauna.

Growing Tips

Plant in a sunny, well-drained position and water regularly through the first summer to establish a strong root system. Once established, this form is extremely hardy and requires little ongoing care.

It is particularly useful in gardens with clay, loam, lime or mildly saline soils, where many more delicate native shrubs may struggle. Tip-prune when young to encourage a dense shape, then prune lightly after flowering to maintain form and encourage more blooms.

For container growing, choose a large pot with a free-draining native potting mix and avoid saucers that hold water.

Conservation Note

This form of Eremophila maculata is known only from the South Australian Riverland region and is listed as Rare. Growing regional forms like this helps increase awareness of Australia’s local plant diversity and the importance of conserving small, distinctive plant populations.

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.