Billardiera variifolia

DC.

Western bluebell

Pittosporaceae Edible: Fruit 334 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Billardiera variifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Pittosporaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a twining shrub or climber with elliptic adult leaves and groups of deep purple flowers that fade to blue as they age.

Description

A slender, hairy plant. It climbs to about 3 m tall. The leaves are sword shaped and dark green. They have crinkled edges. They often have a black tip. The flowers are bright blue. They are 10-12 mm across. They have open spreading petals and are at the ends of branches. The fruit are small and green. They are fleshy and hairy berries.

Edible Uses

The small fleshy berries are eaten as fruit.

Distribution

It grows from temperate to subtropical regions. It grows in Western Australia. It grows in forested areas. It is often on sandy soils. It can stand light frosts.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed of cuttings. Cuttings strike easily.

Notes

There are about 25 Billardiera species. They grow in Australia.

References (8)

Bindon, P., 1996, Useful Bush Plants. Western Australian Museum. p 54.
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 148
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 323
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 43
Jones, D.L. & Gray, B., 1977, Australian Climbing Plants. Reed. p 80

Show all 8 references

Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 321
Molyneux, B & Forrester, S., 1997, The Austraflora A-Z of Australian Plants. Reed. p 55
Paczkowska, G . & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 455