Scientific Name: Billardiera mutabilis

Common Name: green appleberry

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Pittosporaceae

Form Description: Shrubby, slender climber.

Height (m): 2 – 5

Flowers: Pendulous bell-shaped, green-yellow turning purplish with age. Tube with 5 petals.

Fruit: Berry – slender, cylindrical, olive green becoming yellow when ripe, sometimes red. The berry is pulpy and seeds red-brown when ripe.

Municipality
Break O’DayCentral CoastCircular HeadDerwent ValleyDevonportDorsetGeorge TownGlamorgan-Spring BayHuon ValleyKentishLatrobeLauncestonTasmanWest CoastWest Tamar
Plant Communities
Coastal VegetationDry Eucalypt ForestHeath
Habitat Notes

Common in the north in dry woodland. Becomes shrubby if grown in the open. Tolerates light to moderate frosts.

Site Tolerance

Dry, Exposed, Shady

Soil Tolerance

Clay, Nutrient-poor, Sandy, Well-drained

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

General Notes

Bird attracting. Birds, including honeyeaters and silvereyes, feed on the flowers and/or fruit. Flowers through spring and summer, fruits at various stages of development and flowers are often on the plant at the same time. Prefers well-drained sites in full sun or partial shade.

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, Cuttings

Seed Information

Seed Treatment Method

Soaking Soak seed in water for 8-12 hours, changing the water 2-3 times.

Seed Treatment Notes

Extract the seed by soaking in water, mashing it (possibly allowing some fermentation) and shaking to separate pulp and skin from seed. The seed should sink. Rinse and sow. Use fresh seed. Smoke treatment may improve germination. Use heat and mist to aid propagation.

Germination Time

8-10 weeks or longer

Cutting & Division Information

Take cuttings from firm new growth during spring from bushland plants, or in autumn from garden plants. To ascertain whether the material is suitable for cuttings, bend the stem at right angles. If it springs back rather than either staying bent or breaking, it should be suitable.