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Eremophila debilis

winter apple

Scrophulariaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Eremophila debilis is a low, spreading evergreen perennial or sub-shrub, formerly placed in the genus Myoporum spp., forming a trailing mat 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) high and spreading 24-60 inches (60-150 cm) wide. The slender stems root where they touch moist soil, carrying narrow lance-shaped leaves 0.6-2 inches (1.5-5 cm) long with finely toothed margins, bright green and slightly fleshy. Small bell-shaped flowers about 0.2 inch (5 mm) across open white to pale lilac, sometimes spotted, scattered along the stems through the warmer months. The flowers are followed by rounded fleshy fruits about 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) wide that ripen pink to purple and give the plant its common name. Growth is fast, and a single plant can cover 3 feet (1 m) in a season. It tolerates light foot traffic and coastal conditions but is damaged by hard frost and prolonged drought.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, occurring in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, with naturalised populations elsewhere. It grows in grassland, open woodland, and disturbed ground, often on clay and loam soils, from the coast to inland slopes.

Suggested Uses

Used as a groundcover and spillover plant in native gardens, rockeries, embankments, and containers, spaced 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart. Its rooting stems suit erosion control on banks and gaps between paving. The fleshy fruits draw birds and were eaten by Aboriginal people.

How to Identify

Identified by a low, trailing mat of slender rooting stems bearing narrow toothed leaves 0.6-2 inches (1.5-5 cm) long and small white to lilac bell-shaped flowers about 0.2 inch (5 mm) across. Rounded fleshy fruits 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) wide ripen pink to purple. The prostrate, mat-forming habit and fleshy purple fruit separate it from upright eremophilas and from clover-leaved groundcovers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 6"

Width/Spread2' - 5'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers through spring and summer (September to March), with scattered blooms whenever conditions are mild and moist. Individual flowers are small and short-lived, but the plant flowers over many weeks. Fleshy fruits ripen from late spring into autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pale lilac

Foliage Description

bright green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on most soils, including clay and loam, preferring moderate moisture and free drainage. Fast to establish, it needs regular water through the first season, then tolerates short dry spells while flowering less in drought. The stems root as they spread, so the plant fills gaps quickly and can be lifted in pieces to propagate. Hard frost burns the foliage, and growth slows or stops over cold winters. No routine feeding is needed on average soils. Few pests affect it, though stems thin out in deep shade.

Pruning

Trimming the spreading stems in late winter or after the main flush keeps the mat dense and within bounds. The plant reshoots from cut stems and from the base. Rooted sections can be cut away to control spread or to start new plants.

Pruning Schedule

winter