Eremophila glabra Red

Eremophila glabra ‘Red’, or Red Emu Bush, is an evergreen bush native to Australia, ideal for dry gardens and rockeries in Mediterranean climates. With its long-lasting bright red flowering and fine, slightly silvery foliage, it has all the charm of Australasian plants. Highly resistant to drought, wind, and poor soils, it also adapts well to container growing for decorating sunny terraces and balconies. Its compact, spreading habit makes it useful as ground cover or in very sunny, dry beds.

Eremophila glabra belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family. This species is endemic to Australia and is found across all mainland regions, particularly in arid and semi-arid zones. This bush thrives in various soil types, from coastal sands to inland clay soils. Eremophila glabra exhibits significant variability in habit, size, and flower colour, with blooms ranging from yellow, orange, red, to green. Eremophila glabra 'Red' is a cultivar selected for its uniformly bright red flowering and compact, spreading habit, giving it a more uniform and ornamental appearance. This bush reaches 0.9 to 1.2 m in height and 1.2 to 1.5 m in width at maturity. Its growth is moderate to fast, depending on growing conditions. Its foliage is evergreen, consisting of lanceolate to ovate leaves, measuring between 7.5 mm and 6 cm in length and 0.8 to 1.8 cm in width. Their colour ranges from glossy green to silvery green, sometimes with a slightly sticky texture due to small glands on the surface. The deep blood-red, tubular flowers measure 2 to 3 cm in length. They develop singly or in pairs in the leaf axils, with fused petals forming a tube ending in five lobes—the upper two close together and the lower three slightly spreading. Flowering mainly occurs from spring to summer but may extend into autumn depending on the climate. After flowering, the plant produces ovoid to spherical, 4 to 9 mm diameter fruits, with a dry or fleshy texture and dark brown colour. Eremophila species have deep roots adapted to arid conditions, capable of drawing moisture from deep underground and withstanding drought.

In a coastal garden, Eremophila glabra 'Red' works perfectly in a bed alongside other dryland, full-sun plants. With its bushy, spreading habit, it can be used as ground cover to structure an arid bed. It also makes an excellent border plant or foreground feature in a dry perennial bed. In a pot on a sunny terrace, its slightly exotic appeal will be appreciated. A few pairing ideas for an Australian-inspired setting: with Westringia fruticosa ‘Mundi', Artemisia arborescens 'Little Mice', and Grevillea juniperina ‘Canberra Gem’.

The genus name Eremophila comes from the Greek eremos (desert) and philéô (to love). It perfectly defines this group of bushes found primarily in desert regions.