-
Image Credit: Anna Povey – with permission
-
Image Credit: Anna Povey – with permission
Scientific Name: Billardiera longiflora Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region
Common Name: purple appleberry
Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots
Family: Pittosporaceae
Form Description: Slender undershrub with stems twining, to vigorous open climber. Stems up to 2m long.
Flowers: Tubular, green-yellow, fairly showy, up to 2.5cm long.
Fruit: Berry – blue, but, rarely, white on kunanyi/Mt. Wellington. Up to 12 seeds per fruit. Seed is dark brown or maroon when ripe.
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Quite common, climbing in the shrubby understorey of all but the driest forest communities.
Site Tolerance
Moist, Rocky, Shady
Soil Tolerance
Loam, Nutrient-poor, Well-drained
Frost Tolerance
Hardy
General Notes
If planting in the home garden support on trellis or dead branch/shrub as this plant will eventually strangle and kill its supportive “host”. Bird attracting.
Propagation Calendar
-
Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Dry capsules then split to remove seeds.
Seed Treatment Method
Cold Some species require exposure to cold before they germinate. These species are best sown in early winter and left to germinate in a shade house.
Seed Storage Life
1-2 years
Seed Treatment Notes
Seed germinates much better after stratifying at 4°C for 6-8 weeks. Remove the seed from the fruit and wash in detergent to clean. Generally germinates in the second year after sowing. Use of soil from under the parent plant may improve results.
Germination Time
8-10 weeks
Cutting & Division Information
Can be propagated from cuttings.