Billardiera cymosa – Sweet Apple Berry
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- Billardiera cymosa – sweet apple berry
Picture provided by Philip Clarke, from his new book Discovering Aboriginal Plant Use: Journeys of an Australian Anthropologist
A gorgeous light climbing plant with decorative flowers and small, sweet edible fruits, which can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a sweet aniseed taste. Easy to grow in a small garden, it will grow to a shrub in an open setting, or a light climber if given something to climb on. Likes a sunny spot with medium to light well drained soils. It is frost hardy, but if the plant does become damaged from hard frost, it can be cut back and may resprout from the base. Drip irrigation is beneficial in dry times.
There are a few different colour forms, from white to red to blue flowers, and these can be cultivated from cuttings. Propagation is also from seed.
| Family: | Pittosporaceae |
| Scientific Name: | Billardiera cymosa |
| Common Name: | Sweet Apple Berry |
| Plant Type: | Small shrub, Climber |
| Height: | 1 ~ 2 metre |
| Width: | 1 ~ 3 metre |
| Flower Colour: | White, Blue, Red, Purple |
| Flowering Time: | Spring |
| Ph Level: | Neutral |
| Soil Type: | Sandy, Loamy, Sandy loam, Clay loam, Potting mix |
| Plant Environment: | Low maintenance garden, Courtyard, Container growing, Cottage garden, Flower garden, Cold climate |
| Climate Zone: | Warm temperate, Cool temperate, Mediterranean, Cool |
| Light: | Sunny, Light shade |
| Planting Season: | Spring |
| Growth Habit: | Evergreen, Open foliage, Spreading |
| Lifespan: | Perennial |
| Soil Moisture: | Well-drained, Moist moderate drainage |
| Propagation Method: | Seed, Softwood cutting, Semihardwood cutting |
| Frost Tolerance: | Tolerates light frost |
| Special Features: | Edible, Decorative fruit, Fast growing, Playground friendly |
| Attracts Wildlife: | Seed eating birds, Lizards |
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WHERE TO GET YOUR PLANT
Once you have found the plant that looks right for you, the next step is where to buy it.
Most nurseries stock a good range of plants, but due to space and supplies, they may not always have the plant that you are searching for in stock. If they don’t, they may be able to order it in for you if you request it.
Specialist nurseries are also able to give great advice, and if they don’t have the plant you have planned on, they can often suggest alternatives that will also work well for you.
Below is a list of our favourite specialist nurseries. Click on the links for their details-
The Wildflower Place Erina – NSW
Newcastle Wildflower Nursery – NSW
Harvest Seeds And Native Plant Nursery – Sydney – NSW
Native Grace Nursery – Robertson NSW
Wariapendi Nursery – Colo Vale NSW
Sydney Wildflower Nursery – NSW
Geelong Native Plants – Victoria
Wimmera Native Nursery – Victoria
Forest Heart eco-Nursery – Maleny Queensland
Natives R Us – Traveston – Queensland
Manuka Native Nursery – South Australia
MAIL ORDER NURSERIES –
Angus recommends Bush Tucker fertiliser for native plants.