Billardiera longiflora

CLIMBING BLUEBERRY, PURPLE APPLE BERRY
Family: Pittosporaceae
Pronounced: bi-lar-dee-EH-ra long-gi-FLOW-ra

 

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GROWING GUIDE

Origin:
New South Wales and Tasmania.
Plant Group:
Vines.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: Not listed.
USDA zones: 8-9. Heat zones: 9-8.
Mature size:
Height: 6-10 feet (2-3 m).
Flowering period:
June.
Flowering attributes:
Pendent, narrow bell-shaped flowers open a pale chartreuse, turning a creamy white in its prime and then aging to lavender-purple.
Leaf attributes:
Evergreen, linear lance-shaped, dark green leaves.
Growth habit:
Climber.
Light:
Sun to partial shade.
Soil:
Humus rich, neutral to acidic, moist, well-drained soil.
Feeding:
Mulch well with composted manure or compost. Feed once a month with a complete organic fertilizer during the growing season.
Propagation Methods:
Sow fresh seed as soon as ripe in autumn. Old seed may take up to a year to germinate.
Softwood cuttings in early summer.
Pruning Methods:
Prune after fruiting and is only neccessary for rejuvenation or to keep confined to its space.

Billardiera was named after the French botanist, J. J. de Labillardiere. Longiflora means long flowering.

This vine looks great in my garden climbing a Nandina domestica. You can train this vine up a trellis, up a tree, or through shrubs. At the nursery where I photographed this specimen, it grows handsomely over a rustic twig fence. However you grow it, you will want to protect it from cold winds. Once established the vine is drought tolerant.

The vine received the Order of Merit from the Royal Horticulture Society

Top right photo and bottom right photographed at Savage Plant & Landscape, Kingston, Washington. Bottom left photo unknown location.