Be Inspired Blog - Arizona
Want Unexpected & Amazing Color? You Can Have It With An Emu Bush
Are you looking for a way to add color and beautiful blooms to your garden? Look no further than the Emu Bush. This evergreen, desert-loving shrub produces a festival of color. This plant’s pale silvery-green leaves are complimented by bunches of tubular yellow to orange to purple-pink flowers, and the flowers are followed by grape-like berries.
As Gardening Know How describes, “The stems of the emu bush are smothered with flowers growing from stalks on the leaf nodes. Expect red, pink and magenta shades, often with coral or yellow highlights.”
Two Popular Emu Bush Varieties
Two valley favorites are Blue Bells and Valentine:
- Blue Bells (Eremophila hygrophana Blue Bells TM) features gray foliage with spectacular blue and purple blooms most of the year.
- Valentine Bush (Eremophila maculata Valentine TM) provides winter color through gorgeous red buds that open to hot pink blossoms December/January through May.
Both types of emu bushes prefer well drained soil—some mulch can be mixed in with the usual desert/clay soil found in most yards. Add a little less than ½ mulch to desert soil for best drainage. At SummerWinds Nursery, we recommend adding Sure Start by E.B. Stone Organics or Garden Rich® Plant Starter by Bonide when the bush is first planted to encourage the growth of strong roots.
Planting & Care
This bush needs full sun and grows upright to 4 to 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Once you have your emu bush established, it only needs occasional watering. However, when you do water it, give it a good soaking. As Gardening Know How reports, “Shallow, frequent irrigation shortens the shrub’s lifespan.” SummerWinds Nursery recommends less frequent, thorough watering that promotes strong and deep root growth.
Note: it usually takes about a year for a plant to establish itself in your garden landscape with the proper watering and care.
Growing Your Own Emu Bush Are you interested in growing your own Emu Bush? Visit your local SummerWinds Nursery to see our selection of Emu Bush varieties and pick out the perfect one for your garden. Speak with one of our Trusted Garden Advisors to learn more!
