Eremophila nivea

Eremophila nivea is commonly known as the Silky Eremophila due to its almost white evergreen foliage. It is a perennial Australian bush for a semi-arid climate that charms with the brightness of its vegetation and its beautiful purple flowering in late winter. It forms a beautiful, dense, very unusual bush, that stands out from afar. Its low hardiness, as well as the sensitivity of its foliage to humid climates, make its cultivation in open ground unpredictable. Growing it in a large pot is possible, which allows for winter protection and also protects it from frequent rains during the summer.

Eremophila nivea is a bush from the Scrophulariaceae or Myoporaceae family according to classifications. It is native to the west of southern Australia, governed by a mild winter, hot and arid summer climate. In nature, it is found on clay-sandy or sandy-loam soils with a neutral to slightly chalky pH. This species is endangered in its native lands. It is a plant perfectly adapted to water scarcity that does not tolerate temperatures below -4 or -5 °C. The Silky Eremophila quickly forms a large bush about 1.40 m (4 ft 7 in) high and 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) wide in open ground. In a pot, the plant will remain smaller in size. It is entirely covered with a light grey to white felting, made up of intermingled hairs, which allows it to limit water loss very effectively. On the other hand, this characteristic promotes the accumulation of moisture and the proliferation of fungi in humid conditions. The foliage is evergreen. The stems are erect, brittle, and covered with narrow, linear leaves measuring 8 mm (0.3 in) to 1.8 cm (0.7 in) long and arranged alternately. The main flowering takes place in March-April, then again more modestly at the end of summer. Small tubular flowers 2 cm (0.8 in) long open into lobes, hidden a little in the axils of the leaves. They are lavender mauve on the outside, white, speckled with yellow-brown and hairy on the inside. After pollination, small dry, woody, oval-shaped fruits form, which are difficult to spot in the vegetation. Eremophila seeds are very difficult to germinate, as their dormancy requires specific conditions.

Eremophila nivea can be used in groups in rockeries and on slopes, but also as a low hedge to border a path for example. Create an evergreen border with staggered flowering by mixing the foliage and scents of lavenders (blue, white, pink), rosemary (creeping or erect), Atriplex, shrubby salvias, Leucophyllum frutescens, rockroses, catmints, and dryland spurges (E.characias, E. cyparissias). Its association with the Myrtle-leaf Milkwort, the Azure Teucrium fruticans, and evergreen ceanothuses that flower in late winter and spring in dry gardens is very successful.