Easter egg emu is an evergreen shrub that, when in bloom, will make you look twice at its rainbow assortment of flower colors. Here’s how to plant and care for this low-maintenance Australian native.
Easter egg emu (Eremophila racemosa) is an evergreen shrub with small, bright green leaves. What makes this shrub a stand-out is its flowers.
Small tubular flowers in an assortment of Easter egg colors appear in the spring. Amazingly, you’ll see multiple colors on a single shrub at the same time.
How does it do that?
You might think it’s a man-made cultivar or that shrubs of various colors have been grafted onto one plant, but the answer is deceptively simple.
Each flower starts out as a yellow bud that successively turns orange, pink, and finally purple-pink. Because each flower blooms on its own schedule, you’ll see flowers at various stages at once.
Easter egg emu’s genus name Eremophila means “desert-loving.” It’s native to arid regions of southwest Australia, where it thrives in blazing sun, poor soil, temperature extremes, and drought. It survives on 7 to 15 inches of rain per year. It’s easy to see why it also thrives in the US southwest, which has a very similar environment.
Why I Like This Plant
- Multi-color blossoms in Easter egg colors
- Attractive evergreen foliage
- Low maintenance
- No thorns, low-litter, non-toxic
- Attracts hummingbirds
- Rabbit resistant
What to Watch Out For
Easter egg emu is relatively short-lived with a life expectancy of only 8 to 10 years.
While it’s an attractive shrub even when not in bloom, be aware that the bloom season isn’t long, only a few weeks. So don’t count on it to be the showpiece of your garden for much of the year.
Here’s what they look like when not in bloom.
This is not a good shrub to plant in a wind tunnel. They’re known to blow over in strong winds. If there’s any doubt that the spot you have in mind qualifies as “windy”, it’s best to provide some support, such as a few inconspicuous garden stakes.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding an Easter egg emu to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Easter egg emu should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 – 11. It thrives in desert heat and survives cold temperatures down to 20℉.
Sun Exposure
Easter egg emu performs best when planted in full sun. It tolerates part shade but needs at least 6 hours of full sun to look its best.
Size and Growth Rate
Easter egg emu grows moderately fast and reaches its mature size of 3 to 5 feet tall and wide within a few years after planting.
Soil
Easter egg emu is not picky about soil as long as it’s well-drained. In its native habitat, it grows in sandy, clay, or gravely loam.
Other Location Considerations
Because it has no thorns, is non-toxic, and is nearly litter-free, it’s a good choice to plant near a pool, sidewalk, or anywhere it might come in contact with pets and people.
Easter Egg Emu:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Easter egg emu |
| Scientific Name | Eremophila racemosa |
| Origin | SW Australia |
| Plant Type | Evergreen shrub |
| USDA Zones | Zones 9 – 11 |
| Cold Hardy | To 20℉ |
| Flower Color | Multicolor |
| Flower Season | Spring |
| Mature Size | 3-5’ high x 3-5’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests/Diseases | Root rot if overwatered |
| Garden friendly | No thorns, non-toxic, low litter |
| Wildlife | Attracts hummingbirds |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any shrub in the desert is to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.
When to Plant
The best time to plant Easter egg emu is in the fall. This gives your shrub three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
Where to Buy
Since Easter egg emu’s selling point is its flowers, plants are usually sold in the spring when in bloom and often sell out quickly. While I prefer to support local nurseries over big box stores, you’re best bet for finding one is at Home Depot, where they’re sold under the Australian Outback Plantation label.
How to Care for Easter Egg Emu
Whether you’ve recently planted an Easter egg emu or have an existing one in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water New Plants
Once you’ve got your shrub in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern. Here is the recommended watering schedule for new shrubs planted in the spring or fall.
| Weeks 1 & 2 | Every 3 – 4 days |
| Weeks 3 & 4 | Every 5 – 7 days |
| Weeks 5 & 6 | Every 7 – 10 days |
| Weeks 7 & 8 | Every 10 – 14 days |
How to Water Established Plants
Easter egg emu needs little water once established. A basic rule of thumb is to water once a week in the summer, once every two weeks in spring and fall, and once a month in the winter.
Note that Easter egg emu does not like humidity, which is generally not a problem in the desert southwest, and can develop root rot if overwatered.
Should You Fertilize
You can fertilize Easter egg emu, but it’s not necessary. These are tough plants that naturally grow in rocky soil.
How to Prune
Easter egg emu responds well to pruning. Since the flowers are born on new wood, trim lightly in the spring after the flowers have faded. This will encourage flowering the following year.
Plant Lover Facts
Easter egg emu (Eremophila racemosa) also goes by the common name showy eremophila.
The genus Eremophila is derived from the Greek words eremos (desert) and philos (loving), and means “desert loving.”
The Eremophila genus consists of approximately 200 species widely distributed in the arid regions of Australia. Multiple Eremophila spp. are used as traditional medicines by the indigenous people of Australia. Some species have been found to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties.
While Easter egg emu is a popular landscape plant, it’s considered rare in its native habitat of southwestern Australia.
Have you grown this plant?
Was it a “hit” or a “miss” in your garden?
Please share your experience in the comments below!
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
Photo Credits
Stickpen, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons