Convolvulus angustissimus
blushing bindweed
Overview
Convolvulus angustissimus is a perennial in the morning-glory family with slender trailing and twining stems 1.5-5 feet (0.5-1.5 m) long that scramble over the ground or low vegetation. Leaves are alternate, narrow and arrow-shaped to deeply lobed, 0.4-2 inches (1-5 cm) long, with the lower lobes often spreading or toothed, mid-green and nearly hairless. Funnel-shaped flowers 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) across open singly or in small groups, pink to pale rose with a paler throat, each lasting a single day. Flowering occurs through spring and summer. The plant grows from a deep perennial rootstock and dies back in cold or dry conditions, regrowing from the roots. Growth is moderate, and stems root at the nodes where they touch soil. Unlike the introduced field bindweed, this native species spreads less forcefully, though it can still move into open ground from its rootstock.
Native Range
Native to Australia, occurring in all mainland states and Tasmania. Grows in grassland, open woodland, and disturbed ground on a wide range of soils, from coastal plains to inland and montane areas up to about 4,000 feet (1,200 m).Suggested Uses
Grown as a groundcover and in native, meadow, and rockery plantings on dry banks, spaced 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) apart. The flowers draw native bees and other insects. Its spreading rootstock and self-layering stems can make it persistent, limiting use in small mixed beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'
Width/Spread1'6" - 5'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowers through spring and summer, September to March in its native range, with peak bloom in late spring and early summer. Each flower opens for a single day, but new flowers appear in succession over several months. Warm, sunny conditions lengthen the flowering period.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Pink to pale roseFoliage Description
Mid-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade in most well-drained soils and tolerates poor and dry sites once established. Water occasionally through the first season; established plants are drought tolerant and die back to the rootstock in extended dry or cold spells. The deep rootstock makes the plant hard to remove once set, and stem and root fragments can regrow. Cutting back spreading stems keeps it within bounds. Few pests affect it, though leaf-mining and chewing insects occur.Pruning
Cut back trailing stems through the growing season to control spread and keep the plant compact. Stem fragments are removed after trimming, since pieces can root where they fall. Cut old growth to ground level in late autumn or winter; new shoots emerge from the rootstock in spring.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
fallwinter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons