Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Valentine Emu Bush
Valentine Emu Bush is a dense, rounded Australian shrub that covers itself in red tubular flowers from late winter into spring, with the peak right around Valentine's Day. Hummingbirds and bees work the flowers when little else in the yard is blooming. The small dark green leaves stay on all year and pick up a reddish tint in cold weather. It takes full sun and reflected heat on moderate water once rooted, and it works as a border, an informal hedge or a foundation shrub.
Best for: late winter color for the hummingbirds, hot walls and driveways, informal hedges and borders, and foundation beds.
Buds show up in December and red tubular flowers open from about January through March, peaking around Valentine's Day. Plant it where you can see it from a window, since it blooms when most of the yard has gone quiet.
It takes full sun and the reflected heat off walls, driveways and walkways. Leave room for its 4 to 8 foot width so it can keep its rounded shape.
It grows into a dense, rounded shrub about 4 to 6 feet tall, so it makes a low informal hedge or a border along a walk or foundation. Plant about 4 feet apart for a row that fills in.
It does poorly and can be short lived in heavy clay that stays wet, and soggy soil can rot the roots. Next winter's flowers grow on new stems, so pruning in fall or winter cuts off the bloom.
- Informal hedge or border row4 ft apart
- Single shrubs with room to spread6 ft apart
Water regularly through the first growing season so it roots well. After that, water deeply about every two to three weeks in summer and less often in winter. Too much water does more harm than too little.
Shear it once a year in late spring, after the flowers are done, if you want a denser shrub. Skip pruning in fall and winter, because that cuts off the coming bloom.
Plant it in full sun. It takes reflected heat off walls and paving and blooms best with plenty of sun.
It is rated hardy to about 15 to 20°F, so a normal Valley winter does not hurt it.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Valentine Emu Bush get?
It grows about 4 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide in a dense, rounded shape. Give it that room when you plant so you do not need to keep cutting it back.
When does Valentine Emu Bush bloom?
Buds start in December, and red tubular flowers open from about January through March. The bloom peaks in February, right around Valentine's Day, which is how it got its name.
Does it attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds visit the red tubular flowers, and bees and butterflies use them too. It blooms in winter when not much else in the yard is in flower.
How fast does it grow?
It grows at a moderate rate. Give a young plant regular water through its first growing season so it roots and fills out.
How far apart should I plant Valentine Emu Bush?
Plant about 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center. Use 4 feet for an informal hedge or border row, and the Spacing tab counts plants for you.
How often should I water it?
Water regularly through the first growing season so the roots spread. Once rooted, water deeply about every two to three weeks in summer and less often in winter, and avoid overwatering.
Can it take reflected heat?
Yes. It does best in full sun and takes reflected heat off walls, driveways and walks.
When should I prune it?
It does not need much pruning. If you want it denser, shear it once a year in late spring after the flowers fade, since next winter's flowers grow on new stems.
How cold can Valentine Emu Bush take?
It is rated hardy to about 15 to 20°F, so it handles a normal Valley winter. Watch young plants on the coldest nights of the year.
What soil does it need?
It grows in most soils, including alkaline, sandy and rocky soil, as long as water drains well. Avoid heavy clay that stays wet, where it does poorly.
Why do the leaves turn red or purple in winter?
The small leaves normally pick up a reddish or purplish tint when the weather turns cold. They go back to green in the warm months, so there is nothing to fix.
What is the difference between Valentine and Winter Blaze Emu Bush?
Valentine grows about 4 to 6 feet tall and puts on one big red bloom from late winter into spring. Winter Blaze is smaller, about 3 to 4 feet, with red flowers off and on most of the year.
Valentine Emu Bush for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Valentine Emu Bush is an evergreen Australian shrub grown for its red winter flowers, which peak in February when most of the yard is resting. It handles full sun and reflected heat on low water. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard: size, spacing, water, cold, bloom and when to prune.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Valentine Emu Bush for winter color in Phoenix
Buds form in December and red tubular flowers open from about January through March, peaking in February. Hummingbirds visit them at a time when few other plants are blooming.
How big does Valentine Emu Bush get?
It grows about 4 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide in a dense, rounded shape. That size suits a border, foundation bed or informal hedge.
How far apart do you plant Valentine Emu Bush?
Plant about 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center. Use 4 feet for an informal hedge or border row. The Spacing tab counts plants for you.
How often do you water Valentine Emu Bush?
Water regularly through the first growing season. Once rooted, a deep soak about every two to three weeks in summer is enough, with less in winter.
When do you prune Valentine Emu Bush?
Shear it once a year in late spring after the flowers fade. Next winter's flowers grow on new stems, so pruning in fall or winter cuts off the bloom.
Can Valentine Emu Bush take full sun and reflected heat?
Yes. It does best in full sun and takes reflected heat off walls, driveways and walks.
Valentine vs Winter Blaze Emu Bush
Valentine is the larger shrub at about 4 to 6 feet tall, with one big red bloom from late winter into spring. Winter Blaze stays about 3 to 4 feet and flowers off and on most of the year.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.