Billardiera Species, Australian Bluebell, Bluebell Creeper

18 months old but has been invaded by a black bug type beetle with white spots on back in plague proportions . white oil does no good. so...Read Moreme success with a spray of washing up liquid. but plant is looking sick.

I planted this to climb on my front fence several years ago, but it was not content with a 4 foot high fence to climb. It has climbed up ...Read Morethrough the blackwood tree (Acacia melanoxylon) beside it and is now almost at the top of the tree, which is about 6 metres tall. The Bluebell Creeper is very vigorous and flowers and sets fruit over a long period each year.
Unfortunately the birds have a liking for the fruit and it is speading into the bush as a result. it is already a significant nuisance in a local reserve and we recently found it growing in Morwell National Park for the first time. We removed all that we could find, but will have to be watchful to prevent it becoming established.
I feel that I ought to get rid of my plant, but am very loth to do so.

Evergreen climber from Western Australia.

Has oblong, glossy, mid green leaves about 2 inches long. Bears small pendant, b...Read Moreell shaped, pale-mid blue flowers resulting in small, blue berries (supposedly edible but I can't vouch for that personally). Some white and pink flowered forms can also be found.

Flowers June-October

Likes a well drained spot in a sunny position but out of full sun during the hottest parts of the day. DO NOT overwater the plant, while it won't tolerate prolonged dry spells it most certainly won't put up with constantly wet soil.

Will not tolerate frost, so best grown indoors in temperate regions.

Prune back lightly in winter or spring. Cut back the sideshoots to about 4 buds from the main stems.

Apparently very easy to strike from soft wood cuttings.