Beyond the petals

Eremophila racemosa
Fairy Floss

Eremophila pterocarpa
Silver Poverty Bush

What's going on 'ere ey? 🤔

They say germinating Eremophilas is tricky. Can confirm! However, here we are with seed pods on two of our favourite Emu Bushes.

Yes, the seed pods of Eremophilas are located at the base of the flower and are typically bulging, hard cases that remain after the flower drops away. The miniature rope-like structure left over is part of the flower's reproductive structures, the style or filament, that withers away after the flower falls off.

After pollination, the flower's ovary begins to swell and develop into a seed pod. This pod hardens and contains the seeds of the plant. Over several weeks or months, the seed pod matures and eventually dries out. Eremophila seed pods can split open due to drying and weathering, allowing the seeds to fall to the ground. Factors like wind, rain, and animals can also help disperse the seeds.

If you want to propagate Eremophilas from seeds, you can harvest the seed pods once they have fully matured and dried on the plant. Carefully break open the hard seed pods to extract the seeds. Be gentle to avoid damaging the seeds inside. Eremophila seeds can be very tough to germinate. Some species may require scarification (scratching the seed coat) or stratification (a period of cold treatment). Germination can take months. Once the seedlings have grown strong enough, you can transplant them into individual pots.

Making this exciting discovery on your Eremophilas means you can potentially propagate more plants from your existing ones, contributing to the biodiversity and beauty of your garden!