Silver Ball Emu Bush

Silver Ball Emu Bush (Eremophila glabra 'Silver Ball') is a rounded native shrub about 1m tall and 1m wide, with slender silver foliage and lime-yellow tubular flowers from autumn to spring. It brings colour to the cooler months, feeds wildlife and needs very little care. The foliage is slightly narrower and lighter than the better-known Blue Horizon, so the whole plant reads as silver.

Why you'll love it

• Silver foliage all year. Slender silver leaves hold their colour through every season and make a calm backdrop for brighter plants.
• Flowers through the cooler months. Lime-yellow tubular flowers open from autumn to spring, when many gardens are short of colour.
• Wildlife friendly. The flowers feed native birds and insects, which makes it a natural choice for a wildlife garden.
• Takes sand or clay. Any well-drained soil from sand to clay is fine, as long as it is neutral to alkaline.
• Tough once established. It tolerates drought and light frost, and it suits firewise garden plantings.

Where it works best

Feature shrub. A single plant makes a soft, rounded focal point in a sunny bed, about 1m high and wide, and the silver leaves stand out against green or dark foliage.

Informal low hedge. Plant 80cm apart for a loose, flowering low hedge. At that spacing the plants meet within a couple of seasons without crowding.

Pots and containers. A big pot of free-draining mix on a sunny patio suits it well, and the winter flowers sit at eye level.

Wildlife and winter gardens. Pair it with grasses and other natives for a planting that stays interesting through the cooler months.

Growing Silver Ball Emu Bush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and low humidity suit it best; the name Eremophila means 'desert loving'. It is most at home in Mediterranean, arid and semi-arid and warm temperate gardens. It tolerates some humidity and occasional seasonal flooding, so it can be tried in subtropical gardens with excellent drainage. Established plants tolerate light frost only, so in colder regions choose a sheltered sunny spot.

Soil. Almost any well-drained neutral to alkaline soil, from sand to clay. Mulch after planting to hold moisture and regulate soil temperature while the young plant establishes.

Water and feed. Water regularly through the first summer, then rely on rainfall, with a deep soak only in extended dry spells. After pruning, apply a native slow release fertiliser.

Pruning. Prune in spring to early summer, at the start of the growing season, taking off the tips to keep the shape dense. Avoid cutting back into bare wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Silver Ball Emu Bush as tube stock (a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly), in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Tubes are the economical way to plant a hedge line or a large bed, while the 200mm pots give you a more established shrub with shape from the start. Expect a small plant that settles in a few weeks and builds into a rounded shrub over the following seasons.

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

• More Australian native shrubs
• Drought tolerant plants
• Native plants with yellow flowers
• Native plants that attract birds

Common questions

When does it flower?

From autumn through to spring, with lime-yellow tubular flowers. That makes it one of the more useful native shrubs for cooler-season colour.

Can I use it as a hedge?

Yes, as an informal one. Plant 80cm apart and tip prune once a year in spring. It will not give you a tightly clipped formal line.

Does it cope with wet weather?

It prefers sun and low humidity, but it tolerates some humidity and occasional seasonal flooding. Good drainage still matters most.