Billardiera scandens
Sm.
Pittosporaceae
Billardiera angustifolia DC.
Billardiera brachyantha F.Muell. ex Klatt
Billardiera canariensis J.C.Wendl.
Billardiera daphnoides Knowles & Westc.
Billardiera grandiflora Putt.
Billardiera latifolia Putt.
Common Name: Common Appleberry
Ripening fruit
Photograph by: Cas Liber
Public domain
General Information
Billardiera scandens is a much-branched, evergreen shrub usually growing around 50cm tall, though some branches eventually grow longer and adopt a somewhat climbing habit[
365- Title
- Flora of New South Wales
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource giving a brief botanical description of all the native plants of New South Wales, their habitat and range, together with diagrams and photographs of the plants.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
154- Title
- Flora of Victoria.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ewart. A. J.
- Publisher
- University Press; Melbourne
- Year
- 1930
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A flora of eastern Australia, it is rather short on information that is useful to the plant project.
,
365- Title
- Flora of New South Wales
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource giving a brief botanical description of all the native plants of New South Wales, their habitat and range, together with diagrams and photographs of the plants.
Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria
Habitat
By mountain streams or scrub country in forests, by coasts and on tablelands[
154- Title
- Flora of Victoria.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ewart. A. J.
- Publisher
- University Press; Melbourne
- Year
- 1930
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A flora of eastern Australia, it is rather short on information that is useful to the plant project.
]. Common in open eucalypt forest and woodland, particularly at higher elevations[
365- Title
- Flora of New South Wales
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource giving a brief botanical description of all the native plants of New South Wales, their habitat and range, together with diagrams and photographs of the plants.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Climber |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Pollinators | Birds |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Billardiera scandens can tolerate occasional, short-lived frosts with temperatures as low as -7°c in Australian gardens[
157- Title
- Australian Native Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M.
- Publisher
- Collins. (Australia)
- Year
- 1988
- ISBN
- 0-7322-0021-0
- Description
- A lovely book, written in order to encourage Australian gardeners to grow their native plants. A little bit of information for the plant project.
], though this does not relate directly to moister regions of the temperate zone due to their cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. Mulching the roots in winter can provide extra protection for the plant and even if the top is cut back by the cold it might resprout from the base[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Species in this genus generally prefer a moist, well-drained, humus-rich, lime-free soil in sun or semi-shade with a cool root run[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
154- Title
- Flora of Victoria.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ewart. A. J.
- Publisher
- University Press; Melbourne
- Year
- 1930
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A flora of eastern Australia, it is rather short on information that is useful to the plant project.
]. Unripe fruits can be roasted, whilst fully ripe fruits are very acceptable raw[
193- Title
- Wild Food Plants of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Low. T.
- Publisher
- Angus and Robertson.
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 0-207-14383-8
- Description
- Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
,
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
]. A pleasant sub-acid flavour akin to dried apples[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
144- Title
- Wild Food in Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
- Publisher
- Fontana
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- 0-00-634436-4
- Description
- A very good pocket guide.
]. A sweet, astringent flavour somewhat like kiwi fruits (Actinidia deliciosa)[
193- Title
- Wild Food Plants of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Low. T.
- Publisher
- Angus and Robertson.
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 0-207-14383-8
- Description
- Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
,
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
]. The skin is hairy, somewhat like a peach[
440- Title
- Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network,
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
]. The fruits are up to 2.5cm long[
193- Title
- Wild Food Plants of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Low. T.
- Publisher
- Angus and Robertson.
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 0-207-14383-8
- Description
- Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - best sown in a warm greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Only just cover the seed. Sow stored seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse. The germination of fresh seed is usually prolific, but stored seed can take a year to germinate[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 - 12cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame. Fair percentage.
Layering.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
