Convolvulus angustissimus (Blushing Bindweed)

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Convolvulus spp.

bindweeds

Convolvulaceae

Cosmopolitan, with many species in the Mediterranean and temperate regions

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Convolvulus spp. is a genus of about 200 to 250 species of twining and trailing herbs, perennials, and small shrubs in the morning-glory family Convolvulaceae, found across temperate and subtropical regions worldwide. Stems may twine, trail, or mound, carrying alternate, often arrow-shaped leaves and funnel-shaped flowers 0.5 to 2.5 in (1 to 6 cm) wide that open in the morning and close by afternoon. Flower color spans white, pink, blue, and purple, frequently with a paler or yellow throat. The genus spans garden ornamentals and aggressive weeds: C. cneorum, the silverbush, is a silvery-leaved Mediterranean shrub; C. sabatius is a trailing blue-flowered perennial; C. tricolor is an annual dwarf morning glory; and C. arvensis, field bindweed, is a deep-rooted perennial that is a serious agricultural weed worldwide. Most species are drought tolerant and grow on poor, dry soils. Limitations include the invasive, hard-to-remove roots of field bindweed, frost sensitivity in the shrubby species, and flowers that last only part of a day.

Native Range

Convolvulus spp. grows wild across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas, with a strong concentration of species around the Mediterranean. Field bindweed (C. arvensis) is native to Europe and Asia and has naturalized as a weed on every continent except Antarctica. Plants grow in grassland, scrub, rocky slopes, roadsides, and cultivated ground.

Suggested Uses

Convolvulus spp. ornamentals are grown in gravel and Mediterranean gardens, on dry banks, in raised beds, and in containers and hanging baskets, where the silverbush and trailing blue species suit hot, dry spots. The annual C. tricolor is sown for summer bedding and edging. Field bindweed is not planted and is managed as a weed.

How to Identify

Identify Convolvulus spp. by its funnel-shaped flowers that flare into a shallow five-angled trumpet and its alternate, often arrow- or heart-shaped leaves on twining or trailing stems. Field bindweed has small white to pink trumpets and slender twining stems, while the silverbush carries white flowers above felted silver leaves. The single, undivided funnel flower separates it from the larger flowers of Calystegia spp., which have bigger bracts at the base.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 6'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Convolvulus spp. flowers from late spring through autumn, with each funnel-shaped bloom opening in the morning and closing by midday or in dull weather. Plants produce a long succession of short-lived flowers over many weeks. Bees and hoverflies visit the open trumpets for nectar and pollen.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white, pink, blue, or purple

Foliage Description

green to silver-grey

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay chalk

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Time to Maturity

1-2 years to mature size

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Convolvulus spp. grows in full sun in free-draining soil over a wide pH range from about 6.0 to 8.0, including poor, sandy, and chalky ground. The ornamental species are drought tolerant once established and need little water, while wet or rich soil makes them leggy and shy to flower. The shrubby C. cneorum is frost tender below about 20 F (-7 C), whereas field bindweed is hardy and persistent across most climates. Field bindweed regrows from root and rhizome fragments left in the soil and from long-lived seed, so it spreads and resists removal once established. Container plants of C. sabatius are overwintered under cover in cold regions.

Pruning

Convolvulus spp. shrubs such as C. cneorum are lightly trimmed after flowering to keep a compact shape, since hard cutting into old wood is slow to recover. Trailing ornamentals are sheared back when growth outgrows its space. Field bindweed is cut or pulled repeatedly to weaken the roots, though a single treatment rarely clears it.