Bracted Bindweed Calystegia sepium
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Convolvulus sepium
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-ih-STEE-jee-uh SEP-ee-um
- Description
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Hedge bindweed is a perennial, herbaceous weedy vine or wildflower in the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). 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 near by It can be found growing in disturbed areas including, cropland, pastures, abandoned fields, streams 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 large bindweed but the flowers for hedge bindweed have bracts that do not overlap, unlike large bindweed. The plant is difficult to eradicate as is able to regrow from any part of rhizomes left in the ground and also self-seeds.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No significant 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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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:
- Oval seed capsules are a little less than ½ inch across. 2-4 dull brown to black seeds are released when the capsule splits open
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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:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Living for one day, the white to pink funnel-shaped flowers close up around noon unless it is cloudy. The slightly 5-lobed flowers are 2.5- 3 inches across with bracts at the base that do not overlap. The corollas are white to pale pink and deep in the throat is yellow. Slender petioles are about 1/2 the length of the leaves. Bloom time is summer
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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:
- 2.5- 5 inch by 1-2 inch leathery alternate leaves are triangular in shape and sparsely to moderately distributed along the stems. The basal lobes are squared off but sometimes more rounded. and strongly indented. Paler undersides may have fine hairs. Margins are slightly hairy.
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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
