Apple berry

What it is

The fruit is oval to oblong, about 2–2.8 cm (¾–1⅛ in) long, with a hairy covering and many small seeds inside. It turns brown when ripe and drops from the plant as it softens. Its botanical name is Billardiera scandens, and it belongs to the Pittosporaceae family.

Where it comes from

Apple berry is an Australian native. In New South Wales it grows from the Queensland border to near the Victorian border, and it is also found in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania. It belongs to open eucalypt forest and woodland, especially in higher country, and also grows in heath and shrubland. Karrawang is the name for it recorded at Coranderrk.

How it's eaten where it grows

At Wreck Bay, apple berry is a bush snack. People wait for fruit to turn pale brown, often gathering it beneath the plant once it has fallen. Another way of eating it is to pick the fruit and roast it briefly.

How it's grown

The plant grows as a small shrub or a climber. In gardens it can climb over other plants or grow in a pot, hanging basket or rock garden. Regular watering and pruning in a sunny position encourage fuller growth. Its flowers also bring honeyeaters, birds that feed on nectar.

Seed sown in summer can take up to 12 weeks to sprout in autumn. Gardeners also start new plants from firm shoot tips cut in summer.

When and where you'll find it

At Wreck Bay, ripe apple berries are usually a summer find. The plant is also grown at home: a selection from West Pennant Hills in Sydney, with larger and sweeter fruit than the common form, is listed by an Australian nursery as a potted plant. It can be grown as a groundcover or a climber, or in a pot.