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Similar but less problematic plants:
Gelsemium sempervirens Close up of funnel shaped flower
Lonicera sempervirens Lonicera sempervirens
Calystegia silvatica is often confused with:
Calystegia sepium Pink Flowers
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Clematis terniflora form in landscape on arbor in late summer
Convolvulus arvensis Convolvulus arvensis
Lonicera maackii Flower Form

Calystegia silvatica

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Calystegia sepium subsp. silvatica
  • Convolvulus sepium subsp. silvaticus
  • Convolvulus silvaticus
  • Volvulus silvaticus
Phonetic Spelling
kal-ih-STEE-jee-ah sill-VAT-ih-ka
Description

Giant bindweed is a twining perennial vine in the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae) that is native to southern Europe, Africa, Asia and some areas of eastern and mid-western USA. However, it has been introduced to many areas of the USA and has escaped cultivation. There are also several accepted subspecies of this plant and the subspecies fraterniflora is native to the USA.

This is a vigorous twining vine that twines counterclockwise and can grow up to 10 feet long. It also spreads by rhizomes. It can be found in various areas as forests, fields, lawns and disturbed areas. Calystegia is Greek for "covered calyx" referring to the large bracts; silvatica is Latin for "of the forest."

The showy large white flowers appear in summer. The bracts of this flower overlap as they do not for hedge bindweed (C. sepium) and the flowers are larger. The simple leaves are large and arrow-shaped.. 

Grow this plant in full sun to partial shade on a trellis, wall or another vertical hardscape. It is adaptable to various soils and is drought-tolerant once established. Be aware it will spread aggressively. See less problematic vines listed to the left.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Can be weedy and difficult to eradicate. It has invaded crop fields and can cause problems.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
C. × pulchra, ssp disjuncta, ssp. fraterniflora, ssp. orientalis
Tags:
#showy flowers#white flowers#high maintenance#aggressive#climbing vines#summer flowers#herbaceous vine#weed#fence#trellis#verticle spaces
 
Climbing habit
Climbing habit Xemenendura CC BY-SA 4.0
Flower detail
Flower detail Rob Macfie CC BY-NC 4.0
Side view of flower shows overlapping bracts
Side view of flower shows overlapping bracts John Barkla CC BY 4.0
Flower buds
Flower buds Gian-Andrea Catrina CC BY-NC 4.0
Growing wild
Growing wild Kate McCombs CC BY-NC 4.0
Leaf detail
Leaf detail Rob Macfie CC BY-NC 4.0
Underside of leaf
Underside of leaf Dan Antonaccio CC BY-NC 4.0
Stem and leaves
Stem and leaves fenchurch CC BY-NC 4.0
Fruit
Fruit Johnna CC BY-NC 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
C. × pulchra, ssp disjuncta, ssp. fraterniflora, ssp. orientalis
Tags:
#showy flowers#white flowers#high maintenance#aggressive#climbing vines#summer flowers#herbaceous vine#weed#fence#trellis#verticle spaces
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    calystegia
    Species:
    silvatica
    Family:
    Convolvulaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe, Asia and North America
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CA , CO , CT , DC , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Vine
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Dehesiant spherical capsule with 4 seeds hidden by the bracts
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Trumpet
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Solitary trumpet large white flowers may have some pale pink in the sun. There are 5 sepals and 5 stamens with long filaments. Flower May to Aug.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Simple green pinnately veined leaves are 2-7 inches long and 1-2 inches wide with entire margins. They are triangular-ovate, usually glabrous with deeply cordate bases and acute to acuminate tips.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Twinning green stems with white latex inside
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Vertical Spaces
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    English Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Problems:
    Weedy