Eremophila glabra 'Kalbarri Carpet'

Kalbarri Carpet / Tar Bush

Botanical Name: Eremophila glabra ‘Kalbarri Carpet’
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Origin: Western Australia (cultivar selection)
Plant Type: Evergreen, low-growing native shrub

Overview

A hardy, spreading groundcover form of Eremophila glabra, ‘Kalbarri Carpet’ is a standout performer for South Australian gardens. Its dense, silvery foliage forms a soft mat that’s smothered in golden to orange tubular flowers from spring through summer, often with spot flowering into autumn. Perfect for sunny, low-water landscapes, verges, embankments, and coastal gardens, this variety thrives in heat, wind, and poor soils while bringing colour, texture, and habitat value to native plantings.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.2–0.4 m H × 1.5–2.5 m W (prostrate, spreading habit)
• Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Silvery to grey-green, fine-textured and soft; evergreen year-round
• Flowers: Tubular yellow to orange blooms, heaviest in spring–summer with spot flowering most of the year
  
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen silver carpet with extended bloom period through warmer months; occasional winter flowers in mild SA climates
• Wildlife Value: Nectar-rich flowers attract honeyeaters, native bees, and butterflies; dense mat provides shelter for small reptiles and ground-dwelling insects
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, coastal-tolerant (front-line); light frost (protect from hard frost)
• Planting Density: Groundcover: 1 plant per 1.5–2 m² for even coverage; Slope/erosion control: 1–1.2 m apart for dense binding effect
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats and dogs; safe for family gardens

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun for best density and flowering; tolerates light or part shade, though growth may be looser and flowering reduced
• Soil: Free-draining sandy, loamy or gravelly soils; tolerates alkaline and saline soils typical of Adelaide’s coast and plains
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every every 2-3 weeks in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Minimal maintenance required; trim lightly after main flowering flush to maintain shape and encourage fresh growth; avoid heavy pruning into old wood. Mulch lightly with gravel or coarse mulch for best appearance
• Lifespan: 10–20+ years in well-drained soils; long-lived and low-care once established
• Climate Zones: Perfect for Mediterranean and semi-arid SA regions including Adelaide, Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, and coastal areas
• Soil pH: Tolerates a wide range from slightly acidic to strongly alkaline soils; thrives on limestone-based soils common in coastal SA

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Coastal and dryland gardens: ideal for seaside planting, rockeries, and dunes
• Native and wildlife gardens: pairs beautifully with Westringia, Lomandra, and Scaevola
• Verge and erosion control: excellent soil binder for slopes and roadside plantings
• Mass planting for texture and silver contrast in waterwise borders
• Foreground plant in mixed native beds or gravel gardens

Why You Will Love It

‘Kalbarri Carpet’ delivers exceptional drought, heat, and coastal tolerance with year-round silver foliage and a long flowering season. It’s tough yet ornamental, low-maintenance, and perfect for South Australian gardens needing durable groundcover that still offers vibrant native colour and pollinator appeal.