There are a number of Billardiera species endemic to Australia, but B. scandens is one that grows in all states except the Northern Territory. The genus belongs to the Pittosporaceae family and does not occur elsewhere in the world. In its natural habitat, the Common Appleberry grows in rainforests and as an understorey plant in more open forest areas, but it is very adaptable and will grow under a wide range of conditions.

Common Appleberry is a light twining plant with narrow leaves with undulating margins. It will scramble through other plants, or grow well with support on a pergola or trellis. The flowers are small, pale creamy yellow and trumpet shaped. They are followed by edible oblong berries, not unlike the seed pods of the Bluebell Creeper Sollya heterophylla to which it is related. In his notes on how to grow the plant in Juleigh Robins’s book Wild Lime, Rhys Freeman explains that the fruit must be fermented before the seed will germinate.

Billardiera scandens prefers a semi-shaded position, and while it does best with ample moisture, it is tolerant of extended periods of dryness. It is frost-resistant and tolerates a range of soils from quite sandy to clay.

This is a quietly attractive creeper that is easy to manage. Unlike some of the other native climbing plants, it won't strangle plants it clambers through or get out of control. Birds are attracted to both the flowers and the fruits, which are often borne on the plant at the same time.

Common Appleberry is a bushfood plant. When ready to eat, the berries are light brown and look like small sausages. They can be collected from the vine, or from the ground below. The flavour of the fresh ripe berries is excellent. It is strongly reminiscent of apple with perhaps a touch of apricot and a hint of nutmeg. Juleigh Robins suggests a number of culinary uses for the berries. She says the fruit are particularly good when cooked because they retain their colour, shape and texture.