Eremophila longifolia
weeping emubush
Inland and semi-arid mainland Australia
Overview
Eremophila longifolia is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing 6.5-26 feet (2-8 m) tall and 6.5-20 feet (2-6 m) wide, with a weeping habit and slender drooping branches. The leaves are narrow and lance-shaped to linear, 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long and 0.1-0.4 inch (3-10 mm) wide, dull green to grey-green, and hang vertically from the branches. Tubular flowers 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) long appear in the leaf axils, usually in groups of two or three, in shades of brick-red, dull red, and pinkish-orange, with the lower lip spotted inside. Flowering occurs over much of the year and concentrates in winter and spring. The fruit is a fleshy, rounded drupe 0.2-0.4 inch (6-10 mm) wide that dries to a hard, pale capsule. The species spreads by root suckers and can form clonal thickets in open ground. It occurs across inland Australia in a wide range of soils and tolerates extended drought, heat, and light to moderate frost. Growth slows in poorly drained soils, where root rot can develop.
Native Range
Native to mainland Australia, where it is widespread across inland and semi-arid regions of all mainland states. It grows in open woodland, mallee, and along dry watercourses on clay, loam, and stony soils.Suggested Uses
Grown as a screening or specimen shrub in dry gardens, roadside plantings, and low-water landscapes. It functions as a nectar source for honeyeaters and other birds. Its drought and heat tolerance suit it to arid and Mediterranean-climate gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6'6" - 26'
Width/Spread6'6" - 20'
Reaches mature size in approximately 7 years
Bloom Information
Flowering can occur in any month but concentrates in winter and spring, roughly December to April in Northern Hemisphere cultivation. Tubular red to pinkish-orange flowers 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) long open in the leaf axils over several weeks. Scattered flowers continue through warmer months when soil moisture is available.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Brick-red to pinkish-orangeFoliage Description
Grey-green to dull greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Eremophila longifolia in full sun and sharply drained soil with a pH of 6.0-8.5; it tolerates alkaline and stony ground. Once established it survives on rainfall alone in dry climates and needs irrigation only during prolonged drought. Overwatering and heavy, wet soils cause root rot, so drainage matters more than fertility. It withstands frost to about 23 F (-5 C) and heat above 104 F (40 C). A light feeding with low-phosphorus fertilizer in spring supports growth, as the genus is sensitive to phosphorus.Pruning
Prune lightly after the main flowering flush to shape the canopy and reduce legginess. Tip-pruning young plants increases branching and density. Removing root suckers limits the spread of clonal thickets in cultivated beds.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 15 gallons