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Billardiera longiflora
Cultivation Notes
This article was provided care of 'Plants For A Future'
| Latin Name: | Billardiera longiflora |
| Common Name: | Appleberry |
| Family: | Pittosporaceae |
| Synonyms: | |
| Known Hazards: | The leaves contain saponins. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisible to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K]. |
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Author: Labill.
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| Habit: A Slow Growing Evergreen Climber |
| Habitat: Gullies and cool forests in montane and sub-alpine zones. |
| Height: 2.4 Width: |
Cultivation Details:
Requires a moist well-drained humus-rich lime-free soil in a sheltered position in sun or semi-shade with a cool root run[3, 11, 31, 200].
Plants are only hardy outdoors in the mildest areas of Britain[1, 3, 49]. They can survive quite cold winters outdoors if given a suitable position[120]. They are hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[157] though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens because of our cooler summers and longer, wetter and colder winters. Mulching the roots in winter will provide extra protection for the plant and even if the top is cut back by the cold it might resprout from the base[200].
A very ornamental plant[1].The flowers are deliciously scented[245].
Any pruning is best done in spring[202].
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Propagation Notes:
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].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 - 12cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Fair percentage.
Layering.
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