Calystegia sepium
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Convolvulus sepium
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-ih-STEE-jee-uh SEP-ee-um
- Description
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Calystegia sepium, or Hedge Bindweed, is a perennial, herbaceous weedy vine or wildflower in the morning glory family. This vine climbs vertically and spreads horizontally, twinning around objects or other plants and tolerates nearly any growing conditions. It is known to produce allelopathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants and spreads quickly by rhizomatous roots and seeds. It can be found growing in disturbed areas including, cropland, pastures, abandoned fields, stream and areas along roadsides and railroads.
The plant is native to Eurasia, but is found throughout the continental United States. Many of those states list the plant as a noxious weed.It can be mistaken for Field Bindweed; however, field bindweed leaves are smaller, with a more rounded apex, and bases that are pointed or rounded, but not cut off squarely across the top as in Calystegia sepium. The root system of Hedge Bindweed is fibrous and rhizomatous, and it may extend into the ground up to 10 feet, making it difficult to remove once established. It is capable of re-growing from any part of the root left in the ground. Hedge Bindweed spreads by clonal offshoots from its rhizomes or by reseeding itself.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect problems. This vine can spread aggressively and become a nuisance in some locations.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Calystegia
- Species:
- sepium
- Family:
- Convolvulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia
- Distribution:
- USA: Lower continental 48 states. Canada: AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Vine
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Climbing
- Horizontal
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Prickles
- Spines
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Flowers are replaced by broadly ovoid seed capsules a little less than ½ inch across. At maturity, these capsules split open to release their seeds (2-4 seeds per capsule). These seeds are dull brown to black, 3-angled (two flat sides and one rounded side), and rather irregular in shape; they are a little less than ¼ inch long.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 2 1/2 to 3 inch funnel-shaped flowers are white but sometimes pink with white strips or lavendure and slightly 5-lobed. The slender petioles are about one-half as long as the leaves. The large buds produce flowers with corollas that are usually white, although sometimes they are pale pink with spreading white stripes. However, deep within their throats the corollas are yellow. The flowers open during the morning and usually close at around noon, although they may remain open longer on cloudy days. The blooming period occurs intermittently during the summer for about 1-3 months. However, individual flowers last only a single day.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate leaves are sparsely to moderately distributed along the stems. Leathery leaves, 2½-5" long and 1-2" across, sagittate-triangular or hastate-triangular in shape with smooth margins. The basal lobes are squared-off but sometimes more rounded. The undersides are paler and may have fine hairs. Margins are slightly ciliate. The basal lobes of these leaves are rather angular and squared-off in shape, although sometimes they are more rounded. The sinuses of the leaves are strongly indented between the basal lobes and either flattened or rounded.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Lenticels:
- Not Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The twining stems are light green to red, glabrous to slightly hairy, and terete.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
