Giant bindweed is a twining perennial vine in the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae) that is native to southern Europe, Africa, Asia and some areas of eastern and mid-western USA. However, it has been introduced to many areas of the USA and has escaped cultivation. There are also several accepted subspecies of this plant and the subspecies fraterniflora is native to the USA. This is a vigorous twining vine that twines counterclockwise and can grow up to 10 feet long. It also spreads by rhizomes. It can be found in various areas as forests, fields, lawns and disturbed areas. Calystegia is Greek for "covered calyx" referring to the large bracts; silvatica is Latin for "of the forest." The showy large white flowers appear in summer. The bracts of this flower overlap as they do not for hedge bindweed ( C. sepium ) and the flowers are larger. The simple leaves are large and arrow-shaped.. Grow this plant in full sun to partial shade on a trellis, wall or another vertical hardscape. It is adaptable to various soils and is drought-tolerant once established. Be aware it will spread aggressively. See less problematic vines listed to the left. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Can be weedy and difficult to eradicate. It has invaded crop fields and can cause problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High; Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Simple green pinnately veined leaves are 2-7 inches long and 1-2 inches wide with entire margins. They are triangular-ovate, usually glabrous with deeply cordate bases and acute to acuminate tips.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Solitary trumpet large white flowers may have some pale pink in the sun. There are 5 sepals and 5 stamens with long filaments. Flower May to Aug.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Dehesiant spherical capsule with 4 seeds hidden by the bracts
Stem detail
Twinning green stems with white latex inside
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Europe, Asia and North America
Distribution
AL , AR , CA , CO , CT , DC , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV