Convolvulus sepium
Convolvulus sepium · Convolvulaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around convolvulus sepium and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Common name
- Hedge bindweed
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- June to September
- Adult size
- Up to 2–3 m in length
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -15°C)
- Origin
- Europe, temperate Asia
- Soil type
- Tolerant, prefers well-drained
Care
Watering
Water regularly during the growing phase, particularly in dry periods. Once established, hedge bindweed tolerates drought well thanks to its developed root system. Check that water doesn't stagnate at the base, as this promotes rot.
Sunlight
Plant your bindweed in full sun or partial shade for optimal flowering. It appreciates light but also accepts shadier areas. Avoid deep shade, which would slow growth and flowering.
Pruning and training
Prune after flowering or in late winter to control its development: this plant can become invasive. Remove dead stems and guide young shoots along their support. Regular pruning encourages better branching.
Soil and planting
Hedge bindweed adapts to most soils but prefers well-drained, moderately fertile substrate. Enrich the planting soil with compost. Avoid permanently waterlogged soils.
Fertilizer
A modest application of compost or balanced fertilizer in spring is plenty. No need for excessive nutrition: the plant develops naturally and excess feeding promotes foliage at the expense of flowering.
Diseases and pests
Hedge bindweed is generally robust. Watch for spider mites during hot, dry periods. Slugs may damage young shoots in spring. Good air circulation and regular hygiene prevent most problems.
Did you know?
Hedge bindweed is a master of botanical camouflage: its white flowers with rosy centres close at the approach of rain, a mechanism that protects the pollen. Long ago, farmers used it as a cover plant to naturally mark field boundaries, which inspired its evocative name meaning 'hedge vine'.
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
- Hedge bindweedCalystegia sepium
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.