Billardiera scandens
Billardiera scandens · Pittosporaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around billardiera scandens and prepare for winter.
ID card
- English name
- Tasmanian Jasmine
- Family
- Pittosporaceae
- Type
- Perennial climbing plant
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- Spring to summer (April-July)
- Mature size
- 2 to 4 m in height
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- -5 to -8 °C
- Origin
- Australia (Tasmania)
Care
Light and exposure
Place your Billardiera scandens in a sunny or partially shaded location to encourage abundant flowering. A south or west-facing exposure is ideal. The plant tolerates partial shade but will flower less profusely.
Watering
Water regularly during growth and flowering, keeping the substrate moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering in winter. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
Soil and substrate
Plant in well-draining soil that is slightly acidic to neutral, enriched with organic matter. Avoid compact and excessively chalky soils. A mixture of potting soil and compost works perfectly.
Pruning and training
Pinch back young stems regularly to encourage branching. Prune after flowering to maintain shape and control spread. Train the stems on a support (trellis, pergola) to structure growth.
Feeding
Apply a balanced fertilizer once a month or so during the growing season (April to September). Prefer a fertilizer with low nitrogen content to promote flowering rather than foliage.
Pests and diseases
Watch for powdery mildew and scale insects if the air is too dry or stagnant. Ensure good ventilation. If attacked, spray the foliage and treat with appropriate solutions while respecting safety intervals.
Did you know?
Billardiera scandens owes its nickname of 'Tasmanian Jasmine' to its delicate small pale yellow bell-shaped flowers, although botanically it has no connection to true jasmines. Its blue-violet fruits become edible at maturity and were a food source for Australian indigenous peoples.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- PittosporumPittosporum tobira
- TawhiwhiPittosporum tenuifolium
- Chinese PittosporumPittosporum heterophyllum
- Bursaria spinosaBursaria spinosa
- Pittosporum angustifoliumPittosporum angustifolium
- Pedunculate oakQuercus robur
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.