Indicator value
Turpentine bush is an undesirable that increases in the pasture under heavy grazing. The density of turpentine bush alone is not a useful indicator of pasture condition: look for changes in turpentine bush plant density relative to the more-palatable species it grows with, such as tall sida.
There are a number of other undesirable eremophilas (other names: native fuchsia bushes, emu bushes, poverty bushes) that may be locally important. Some of these are Eremophila crenulata, E. foliosissima, the compact form of E. georgei and E. pantonii.
Forage value
Turpentine bush has little or no forage value, though it may be sparingly grazed in very tough times.
Habitat
Floodplains, watercourses, hardpan and stony plains, hills
General description
Turpentine bush is a bright green shrub that can be more than 3m tall. The mature bark at the base is rough and grey-black. The sticky leaves are up to 8cm long and 2cm wide and are usually creased lengthways. The flowers are typically cream to lilac or tan. The sepals below the flower turn a prominent red to mauve colour as the flowers emerge and persist after the flower falls off. The fruit is a tapering egg-shape about 5mm across.