How to grow Kalbarri carpet

Kalbarri carpet or Tah bush or Emu bush as it is also know is an attractive native ground-cover with dense silvery-grey foliage and an abundance of yellow-gold contrasting flowers in spring and summer. A native Western Australian plant mostly found in the semi arid areas of Western Australia, such as Kalbarri as the name suggests. It’s flowers are rich in nectar and attract honey eaters and other nectar eating birds to the garden.

A versatile plant you can mass plant to create as the name implies as carpet like effect, use on banks and retaining walls, or plant in large containers and use around the garden as features. It is worth noting that it has a one to two metre spread, and is drought and frost tolerant.

If you have ever wondered how to grow Kalbarri carpet in Perth then look no further. Eremophila glabra Kalbarri carpet is relatively easy to grow, and there are a few tricks to successfully growing Eremophila Kalbarri carpet in Australia. Get these right and you will be laughing.

When to plant Kalbarri carpet in Australia

The best time to plant Eremophila glabra is after the danger of frost has past. Generally speaking other than this peak cold month or two in winter you can plant most other times of the year.

How much water do Kalbarri carpet need

As Kalbarri carpet is drought tolerant it requires very little water once established preferring a dry aspect. It is ideal for use in coastal areas being salt resistant.

When does Kalbarri carpet bloom

Main flowering is in spring and summer, with spot flowers in winter and autumn, during flowering they will attract birds and bees. It’s lovely tubular golden flowers contrast well against the silvery foliage.

How to prune a Eremophila glabra Kalbarri carpet

Pruning back dead and damaged sections with secateurs will improve foliage density and flower production. However, there is no need to prune hard every year. Every 2-3 year is enough. Pruning is also a good time to re-train groundcovers, to get them to ground you want them. Try pinning into place with purpose-made landscaping pin.

How far apart to plant Eremophila glabra Kalbarri carpet

Kalbarri carpert has a one to two metre spread, if you are looking to have a groundcover application I would plant approximately 1.5m apart.

How to grow Eremophila glabra Kalbarri carpet at home

If you are wondering how to plant a Eremophila glabra Kalbarri carpet in the garden then look no further.

Choose a place in the garden that gets full sun to part shade.
Enrich the soil with a native plant fertiliser.
Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots.
Position in hole and back-fill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant’s root zone. This helps keep water where it’s needed. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.
Mulch around the base with organic mulch, keeping it away from the trunk.
Feed in Autumn and Spring with a native plant fertiliser to ensure strong root development.

How to grow Kalbarri carpet in pots

Growing Kalbarri carpet trees in pots is a great idea. I love to grow Kalbarri carpet in pots because it gives you the flexibility to move them around the yard for maximum impact.

Choose a pot that is at least twice the size of the selected plant. Position in the garden that receives full sun to part shade.
Fill the pot with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.
Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots.
Position in hole and back-fill with a loam well drained potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.
Mulch around the base with organic mulch, keeping it away from the trunk.
Feed in Autumn and Spring with a native plant fertiliser to ensure strong root development.

Propagating Eremophila glabra

You can easily propagate Eremphila grabra using cuttings if you have access.

Using care remove the leaves from the lower two-thirds of the stem.
With a knife scratch a small part of the lower stem and remove a sliver of bark.
Next, dip the stem into some rooting hormone.
Place your Eremphila grabra cutting into your potting mix and cover lightly with the soil.