Silverbush
Convolvulus cneorum · Convolvulaceae
📷 Giuseppe Frizzi · Public domain
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around silverbush and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Convolvulus cneorum
- Family
- Convolvulaceae
- Type
- Evergreen shrub
- Mature height
- 100 cm
- Flowering
- May to June
- Flowers
- White, pale pink on the reverse
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Frost-tender (−5 °C to −8 °C)
- Origin
- Mediterranean region
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Convolvulus cneorum demands full sun and sharp drainage, especially in winter.
The common mistake
Watering in autumn or winter promotes collar rot.
The pro's trick
In heavy soil, plant it on a mineral mound with gravel or pumice.
Care
Exposure
Place your white bindweed in full sun, ideally 6 to 8 hours daily, to encourage generous flowering. This Mediterranean shrub dislikes shade, which reduces flower production and stretches its shape. A south or west-facing exposure is perfect, especially in temperate climates.
Watering
Water moderately once established: white bindweed prefers dry to slightly moist soil and tolerates dry periods well. In containers, ensure water drains freely and let the substrate dry between waterings. Reduce watering significantly in winter.
Soil and drainage
Choose light, well-draining, even poor soil: a sandy or gravelly mix works perfectly. Avoid heavy, wet soils that cause root rot. Adding sand or gravel improves drainage if your soil is dense.
Pruning and maintenance
Prune lightly after flowering (July) to maintain a neat, compact, bushy shape. Remove dead or damaged stems in spring. Avoid severe pruning: this shrub prefers gentle, regular intervention.
Fertilizer
Apply balanced fertilizer once in spring at low strength. Excess nitrogen encourages foliage at the expense of flowers. Naturally poor soil often suffices for white bindweed: restraint beats generosity.
Pests and diseases
This shrub is generally robust. Watch mainly for stagnant moisture causing root rot or fungal issues. Occasionally monitor whiteflies under leaves in warm climates. Good air circulation and optimal drainage prevent most problems.
Did you know?
Convolvulus cneorum, also called 'white bindweed' or 'Silene blanche' in Mediterranean regions, was once used in traditional herbal medicine for its supposed calming properties. Its genus Convolvulus shares the same family as the notorious field bindweeds, but this ornamental shrub is a peaceful plant that doesn't spread via invasive rhizomes — a civilized relative in a family often unwelcome in gardens!
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
- Field bindweedConvolvulus arvensis
- Hedge bindweedCalystegia sepium
- Convolvulus sepiumConvolvulus sepium
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.