Lime Gold Emu Bush

Lime Gold Emu Bush (Eremophila glabra 'Lime Gold') is a vigorous small native shrub, 1m to 1.2m tall and 1m to 1.5m wide, with slender silvery foliage and masses of lime-gold tubular flowers in spring and summer. It copes with drought, light frost, clay, sand and limestone, which makes it an easy feature plant for coastal or inland gardens.

Why you'll love it

• Colour that stands out. Lime-gold flowers against silvery mint-green foliage are a combination few natives can match.
• Tough as they come. It handles drought, extended dry periods and light frost, and grows in clay, loam, sand and limestone.
• Good for wildlife. The sweet nectar attracts birds and insects through the flowering season.
• Suits firewise gardens. A sensible pick for a firewise garden, where the choice of plants near the house matters.
• Takes pruning well. It responds to a trim, so you can keep it dense and compact.

Where it works best

Feature shrub. Set it where the silver foliage catches the light, alone or in a group of three planted 1.2m apart.

Coastal and inland gardens. It is happy near the coast and equally at home in dry inland conditions, with no need for special soil.

Wildlife and winter gardens. The foliage holds its colour through winter, and the flowers feed visiting birds from spring.

Growing Lime Gold Emu Bush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and low humidity suit it: Eremophila means 'desert loving'. It tolerates some humidity and occasional seasonal flooding, but is happiest in Mediterranean, arid and semi-arid, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens. It tolerates light frost and drought once established. In humid subtropical areas, choose the sunniest, best-drained spot.

Soil. It is happy in sand, loam or clay, as long as the soil drains well and sits between neutral and alkaline. Mulch after planting to hold moisture and even out soil temperature while the young plant settles.

Water and feed. Water regularly through the first summer, then leave established plants to the weather apart from a deep soak in a long dry spell. After pruning, feed with a native slow release fertiliser.

Pruning. Prune in spring to early summer, as the season's growth begins. Cut within the leafy growth rather than into bare wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Lime Gold Emu Bush as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tubes are the economical choice for a group or a long border, and the 140mm pots give you a sturdier plant from the start.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse Australian native plants
• More native shrubs
• Native plants with yellow flowers
• Drought tolerant plants

Common questions

How big does Lime Gold get?

About 1m to 1.2m tall and 1m to 1.5m wide. It stays a manageable size for a feature plant and responds well to pruning.

Will it grow in clay?

Yes, provided the soil drains. It grows from sand to clay, and it tolerates occasional seasonal flooding, but it will not enjoy permanently wet ground.

When should I prune it?

In spring to early summer, at the start of the growing season. Follow with a native slow release fertiliser to encourage fresh growth.