Hedge bindweed
Calystegia sepium · Convolvulaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around hedge bindweed and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- June to September
- Adult size
- 3 to 4 m in length
- Growth
- Fast and vigorous
- Hardiness
- Hardy to -15°C
- Origin
- Europe, temperate Asia
- Soil type
- Tolerates all well-drained soils
Care
Exposure
Install the bindweed in full sun or partial shade for optimal flowering. It adapts to different light conditions, but flowers more abundantly with 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Avoid overly shaded locations that reduce flowering.
Watering
Water regularly during growth and flowering, especially during dry periods. Once established, it tolerates relative drought well thanks to its deep roots. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings to prevent root asphyxia.
Soil and drainage
Bindweed adapts to most soils as long as they are well-drained. Poor soil won't hold it back: it's a hardy and undemanding plant. Enrich lightly with compost in spring if the soil is very depleted.
Fertilizer
Moderate balanced fertilizer in spring is sufficient. Too much nitrogen promotes foliage at the expense of flowers. One to two applications during the growing season are generally enough.
Pruning and training
Prune in late winter or early spring to control its vigorous growth. Remove dead stems and tangled branches. Guide the shoots onto a support (trellis, stake) to enhance its climbing form.
Diseases and pests
Bindweed is generally robust and not very susceptible to major diseases. In prolonged humid conditions, watch for powdery mildew. Ensure good air circulation at the plant base and avoid excess leaf moisture to limit fungal problems.
Did you know?
Bindweed is such a vigorous climber that it has long been used in agronomy to stabilize slopes and weakened terrain. In the Middle Ages, its white flowers and rounded berries earned it the nickname "white crown" because of their resemblance to small botanical diadems. It's an invasive plant in some regions, capable of rapidly colonizing entire wastelands in a single season.
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
- Kidney weedDichondra repens
- Blue rock bindweedConvolvulus sabatius
- Pink EarFalkia repens
- SilverbushConvolvulus cneorum
- Field bindweedConvolvulus arvensis
- Convolvulus sepiumConvolvulus sepium
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.