Outback Sunrise Emu: High Impact Ground Cover

Outback sunrise emu is an evergreen ground cover that’s blanketed with yellow flowers in the spring. Here’s how to plant and care for this extremely low-maintenance Australian native.

Outback sunrise emu (Eremophila glabra ‘Mingenew Gold’) is a sprawling ground cover with small, bright leaves that forms aa expanse of emerald green.

Small tubular yellow flowers that look like mini lipstick tubes appear in late winter when not much else is blooming. This makes it a welcome sight in your garden and is good for hungry hummingbirds. These tubular flowers continue to cover the plant for the next few months and pop up occasionally throughout spring and summer.

Sunrise emu bush’s genus name Eremophila means “desert-loving.” It’s native to the deserts of Australia and likewise thrives in the desert southwest. It’s unfazed by blazing sun, poor soil, temperature extremes, and drought.

Other than needing occasional supplemental water, this plant is undemanding and virtually takes care of itself, and yet it is a standout all year long.

Outback sunrise emu is resistant to being eaten by rabbits. This is a concern in the desert southwest, but is a critical issue in Australia, which has a serious rabbit problem.

Why I Like This Plant

• Charming yellow flowers bloom early
• Provides a swath of emerald green all year long
• Grows fast
• Low water use, virtually maintenance-free
• No pruning or deadheading needed to stay tidy
• Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies

Here’s what it looks like when not in bloom.

Things to Watch Out For

Outback sunrise emu is a low-growing but woody groundcover that does not tolerate foot traffic.

It can grow up to 10′ across, so don’t plant it where it won’t have room to spread.

Optimal Growing Conditions

If you’re thinking of adding an outback sunrise 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

Outback sunrise emu should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 – 11. It thrives in desert heat, even in the hottest places, like along roadsides in Phoenix. It’s cold-hardy down to 15℉ and stays green all winter long.

Sun Exposure

Outback sunrise emu thrives in full sun, even the reflected sun off of sidewalks, driveways, or walls. But it will also grow in part shade, such as the dappled shade under a tree.

Size and Growth Rate

Outback sunrise emu is a fast-growing ground cover that stays 1 to 2 feet tall, but eventually can cover an area 10 feet across.

Give it plenty of room to spread so you don’t have to prune it to keep the size in check and risk ruining its natural form.

To control its size, it’s recommended that you limit the amount of water it receives instead of frequent pruning.

Soil

Outback sunrise emu is not picky about soil as long as it’s well-drained. It will grow in clay and is tolerant of alkaline desert soil.

Other Location Considerations

Outback sunrise emu is a good choice for planting on banks, hills, or berms where it can spread with abandon. They really stand out when planted in groups.

Outback Sunrise Emu:
The Essentials

Common Name	Outback sunrise emu
Scientific Name	Eremophila glabra ‘Mingenew Gold’
Origin	Australia
Plant Type	Evergreen ground cover
USDA Zones	Zones 8 – 11
Cold Hardy	To 15℉
Flower Color	Yellow
Flower Season	Later winter, early spring
Mature Size	1’ high x 10’ wide
Growth Rate	Fast
Sun Tolerance	Full, reflected, part sun
Water Needs	Low
Pests/Diseases	Root rot if overwatered
Garden friendly	No thorns, litter-free
Wildlife	Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds Rabbit resistant

How to Plant

The rule of thumb when planting any ground cover 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 outback sunrise emu is in the fall. This gives your plant 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.

How to Care for Outback Sunrise Emu

Whether you’ve recently planted a sunrise 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

Once you’ve got your sunrise emu in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern.

The University of Arizona recommends watering newly planted ground covers every 2 to 3 days for the first 2 to 4 weeks.

After that, water once a week for the next two weeks, and then every 10 – 14 days after that.

During the winter, while it is dormant, it may not need any water, provided you’ve had winter rains. If not, water every 3 to 6 weeks.

How much water you should give your plant with each watering depends on the diameter of your plant and will change as it grows. You can use this chart as a guide.

1 foot diameter	.5 gallons
2 feet diameter	2 gallons
3 feet diameter	3.5 gallons
4 feet diameter	5 gallons

Should You Fertilize?

There is no need to fertilize these plants. These are tough desert natives that normally grow in poor, rocky soil.

How to Prune

If you plant outback sunrise emu in an adequately roomy location, you should rarely have to prune it. You may occasionally need to remove a dead or damaged branch, or one that is growing out of bounds.

If you do any pruning, wait until after it’s done blooming in the spring. You don’t want to cut off its beautiful flowers.

This plant cleans itself of its spent flowers and doesn’t need deadheading to stay tidy.

It’s best to prune it as little as possible, since pruning can ruin its naturally sprawling form. To control its size, it’s recommended that you limit the amount of water it receives instead.

Don’t Confuse Sunrise Emu With…

Winter blaze emu (Eremophila glabra ‘Winter Blaze’) is another popular landscape plant of the same species (but different variety) as outback sunrise emu. It grows as a shrub 3 feet tall by 4 feet wide and has red tubular flowers.

When shopping for outback sunrise emu, you may come across a plant with the same common name that looks identical, but is labeled as Eremophila prostata. No worries, it’s the same plant. According to the Australian Native Plant Society, E. prostata and E. glabra are the same plant and E. prostata is an error in labeling that sometimes occurs with US growers.

Plant Lover Facts

Eremophila glabra is a widespread species found in the dry areas of all mainland states of Australia. ‘Mingenew Gold’ is a natural form that was found in the town of Mingenew in Western Australia.

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.

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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Additional Reference & Photo Credits

Arizona State University’s Virtual Library of Phoenix Landscape Plants