How do you recognise Hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium)?

Leaf

Paul Fabre, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0

Hedge bindweed

Calystegia sepium (L.) R.Br.

Also known as: Bellbind, Larger bindweed

Family: Convolvulaceae

1 to 3 m long (climbing)

Hedges, damp wasteland, climbing over shrubs

Flowering: June – September

Full sun

Part shade

Very hardy, to -25°C

❓ How do you recognise this plant?

Its large white trumpets can reach twice the size of those of field bindweed. Hedge bindweed has much larger leaves and white flowers twice as wide as field bindweed, whose leaves are small and whose flowers are often tinged with pink.

🍃 Leaves

Large, arrow-shaped, with a deeply notched base

🌸 Flowers

Large white trumpets, much wider than field bindweed

🍎 Fruits

Small capsule with black seeds

🪵 Bark

Vigorous twining stems climbing high into hedges

🗺️ Distribution

Europe, Asia, North America; very common in France in hedges and damp woodland edges

🐝 Value for pollinators

Large white funnel-shaped flowers, visited by bees and the convolvulus hawk-moth (a night-flying moth)

✂️ Horticultural uses

Regarded as an invasive climbing weed, rarely tolerated in gardens

⚠️ Possible toxicity

No known toxicity to humans; mild purgative effect in large quantity

⚠️ Look-alike species

Hedge bindweed

Calystegia sepium

Field bindweed

Convolvulus arvensis

Hedge bindweed has much larger leaves and white flowers twice as wide as field bindweed, whose leaves are small and whose flowers are often tinged with pink.

🌿 Other Convolvulaceae to discover

ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.

🌱 This database is constantly evolving — species and information are added and corrected regularly. Spotted a mistake? Report it below.