Spotted Emu Bush
is a survivor. I planted the first Eremophila mauclata I found from a 5 gallon pot. It was
merrily blooming in the dead of winter. My dog, soon to be infamous, dug the plant
up and drug it about the yard. By the time I found it all that was left was a
rootball the size of a 1 gallon pot. I planted that and it bloomed merrily for
several months before the dog renewed his digging in this location. He trotted off
with the plant again. Upon returning from work I noticed the pit where a plant
should be. Upon walking about the yard I found a small chewed plant with maybe a few
leaves on it and a rootball the size of a 2" liner. I planted it and spoke with
it in most encouraging terms. It rewarded me by coming back and growing.
Several months later the dog gave me a new pit. I searched the yard but could not
find the plant this time. All future plants of this variety have been planted out of
the reach of that dog.
It bloomed through the coldest period that we have encountered here.
We got down to 16 degrees on successive nights. The plant was undeterred.
Then there are the flowers. They are an ornate spotted red. The
1.5" lanceolate leaves are an apple green. The plant is tidy and 4-6' in
diameter. It is a great on for the low maintenance garden, unless there is a dog with
a penchant for digging.
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Eremophila maculata and other Australian Plants
