Comments on: Eremophila Images

By: Rebel Gardener

Rebel Gardener — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:34:03 +0000

It sounds unusual your description of E biserrata. I can only suggest that maybe the nursery you bought it from mislabeled E serpens as E biserrata. E serpens is very similar in appearance and growth habit but does require some extra water. It wouldn’t be the first time similar plants have been confused when labeled in a nursery?

By: roughbarked

roughbarked — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:42:39 +0000

My annual average is 300 mm as well and yes Eremophila biserrata may grow here and cover the ground well but it needs to have a drip feed of water.

It will not survive here without supplementary water. Will not be able to make up for the loss of foliage on every high UV day. Buffalo lawn is considerably more resistant to direct sun.
So though I’m all for planting Eremophila, there is more to growing each species than meets the eye. I would not water my buffalo lawn more than once every month or so. The lawn gets full sun. I have to hide Eremohila biserrata under shrubs to get it to stay alive let alone grow.

By: Rebel Gardener

Rebel Gardener — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:15:28 +0000

Hi Roughbarked, thanks for your comment. You’re 100% correct about Eremophilas requiring water. I don’t know of any plants that can survive without it.
The fact is though they do require considerably less than most other plants. You only have to look at their natural environment. They grow naturally in areas that can go for months without rainfall.
I’ve got a small lawn area of Palmetto Buffalo grass in my backyard which is a fairly drought tolerant lawn. I know for a fact that it needs a lot more water that the Eremophila Biserratas I have growng in my garden. In fact I don’t water any of my Eremophilas. They all just survive on my annual rainfall of about 300mm.
Therefore if someone wanted to grow Eremophila Biserrata as a lawn alternative I’d have no hesitation in recommending it. As long as they followed what I suggested above and didn’t subject it foot traffic.

By: roughbarked

roughbarked — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:17:33 +0000

I’ve been growing Eremophila species for 30 years.
Eremophila biserrata like any plant requires water. It would never make it into a lawn like state without lawn like watering.

Contrary to popular belief natives are plants too and no plant will perform without the required levels of aqua.

Admittedly Eremophila species respond to water more rapidly than many plants but they still need the stuff.

By: Rebel Gardener

Rebel Gardener — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:59:28 +0000

Hi Tony

Eremophila Biserrata would be best as a lawn alternative and Eremophila Subtereifolia would also be ok for smaller areas. Neither though are suitable for lots of foot traffic but if you used paths as you suggested that would be ok.

By: Geri Barr

Geri Barr — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:08:52 +0000

I saw Erimophila Hygrophana on Gardening Australia and thought it the answer to a native drought tolerant solution to our dead lawn. While searching for more information I happily found your website. Fabulous! What a great site. I’ll look through in more detail when not so tired. Do you think the native I mention is good for large areas of ground instead of a lawn? We live in inner city Melbourne. Bit prickly on the feet I imagine? I guess we could put in a couple and have crushed rock paths going around them… Thanks Tony!

By: Rebel Gardener

Rebel Gardener — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:11:17 +0000

Thanks Tony

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:54:37 +0000

You’ve sold me on Eremophila’s! Great pictures and a good resource…thanks!

By: Rebel Gardener

Rebel Gardener — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:20:04 +0000

Wow what a great idea. It makes such a wonderfully dense ground cover to suppress weeds but what you’ve done is make it even more interesting again.

By: Margaret Blake

Margaret Blake — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:32:25 +0000

Eremophila subtereifolia makes a lovely plant when grown in a hollow log. I have one growing in a stump 900mm high and it now to the ground.

By: Rebel Gardener

Rebel Gardener — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:12:31 +0000

Yes they mainly thrive in arid areas of inland Australia. The name loosely translates as “Desert Loving” so most are very drought tolerant. I think they are very underused in gardens as they have so many outstanding feature. The one’s shown above are really just the tip of the iceberg.
http://www.gardeningnativeplants.com/eremophilas/

By: elephant's eye

elephant's eye — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:51:01 +0000

What a wide range of colours! Is this an Australian plant?

By: Noelle

Noelle — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:14:03 +0000

Hello Mike,
I have not seen Eremophila grown as a groundcover – wish we had that here in Arizona. I do have the Eremophila maculata ‘Pink’, which I love.