Sollya heterophylla

Lindl.

Bluebell creeper, Australian Bluebell

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Description

A small shrub or twiner. It climbs attaching by its stems. It grows to 1.5 m high. The leafy stems are long. These twist around themselves and other plants. It can climb 3-4 m. The leaves are glossy green. They are leathery and 5 cm long. The flower colour is intense blue. They can also be white or mauve. They hang downwards. They are 3 cm long and hang in loose clusters. The fruit are fleshy. They are blue berries up to 2.5 cm long. They are edible when ripe.

Edible Uses

The fleshy blue berries are edible when ripe.

Distribution

It grows in temperate regions. It can grow in the subtropics. It needs well drained soil. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It can stand light frosts. It grows in woodland areas in SW Western Australia. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Tasmania Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Europe, Tasmania,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings.

Notes

There are 3 Sollya species.

Synonyms

Probably now Billardiera heterophyllaSollya fusiformis

References (23)

Bindon, P., 1996, Useful Bush Plants. Western Australian Museum. p 235
Blomberry, A.M., 1979, Australian Native Plants. Angus and Robertson p 162
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 937
Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 968
Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 25

Show all 23 references

Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1352
Dashorst, G.R.M., and Jessop, J.P., 1998, Plants of the Adelaide Plains & Hills. Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium. p 76
Daw, B., Walley, T. & Keighery, G., 2001, Bush Tucker. Plants of the South-West. Department of Conservation and Land Management. Western Australia. p 36
Edward's Bot. Reg. 17: t. 1466. 1832
Greig, D., 1996, Flowering Natives for Home Gardens. Angus & Robertson. p 306
Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A., and Seberg, O., 2007, Flowering Plant Families of the World. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. p 256 (As Billardiera heterophylla)
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 292
Jones, D.L. & Gray, B., 1977, Australian Climbing Plants. Reed. p 54, 144
Leiper, G & Houser, J., Mutooroo. Plant Use by Australian Aboriginal People. Assembly press, Queensland.
Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 325
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 124
Molyneux, B. and Forrester, S., 1997, The Austraflora A-Z of Australian Plants. Reed. p 150
Morley, B. & Everard, B., 1970, Wild Flowers of the World. Ebury press. Plate 131
Morley, B.D., & Toelken, H.R., (Eds), 1983, Flowering Plants in Australia. Rigby. p 139
Paczkowska, G . & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Calatogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 457
Ratcliffe D & P., 1987, Australian Native Plants for Indoors. Little Hills press. p 131
Rolsh, 1994, Wildflowers of the Western State, Rolsh Productions Albany WA. p 36
Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 44