Yellow Emu Trailing

Eremophila maculata 'Prostrata'

Light

Water

Low water once established. Water deeply, then allow soil to dry between waterings. Irrigate more regularly during establishment and prolonged summer heat; reduce sharply in winter.

Size

1-2 ft tall × 4-6 ft wide

Habit

Groundcover – trailing

Toxicity

Toxic — Pets Humans & Livestock

Description

Australian native with tubular yellow flowers and excellent desert adaptability. Naming note: trailing yellow emu bush usually refers to an Eremophila glabra cultivar; Eremophila maculata is typically a rounded shrub. Confirm the nursery label.

Bloom Time

Winter to spring

Deciduous / Evergreen

Evergreen

Special Features

Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Hummingbirds, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance

Growth Rate

Moderate

Growth Habit

Groundcover – trailing

Mature Size

1-2 ft tall × 4-6 ft wide

Flower Color

Yellow

Foliage Color

Gray-green

Landscape Use

Border / Bed, Desert / Xeriscape, Groundcover, Trellis / Arbor / Wall

Garden Style

Desert / Xeriscape, Pollinator / Wildlife

Soil

Alkaline Tolerant, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained

Companion Plants

Blackfoot daisy, Desert marigold, Desert spoon, Golden barrel cactus, Red yucca, Trailing lantana

Toxicity

Toxic — Pets Humans & Livestock

Foliage cyanogenic; can poison browsing livestock; generally not a hazard to pets or children

Care Instructions

Light: Full sun to light shade; light afternoon shade is helpful near Phoenix walls that reflect intense heat.

Water: Low water once established. Water deeply, then allow soil to dry between waterings. Irrigate more regularly during establishment and prolonged summer heat; reduce sharply in winter.

Soil: Well-drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky soil. Tolerates alkaline soil; avoid poorly drained clay and persistently wet planting basins.

Mature size: Trailing E. glabra cultivars generally reach 1–2 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide. Yellow-flowering E. maculata typically reaches 3–6 feet tall and wide, depending on selection.

Bloom: Primarily winter through spring in Phoenix, with occasional flowers at other times.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.

Growth rate: Moderate.