Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Calystegia silvatica

Other names

Great Bindweed, Giant Bindweed

Family

Convolvulaceae

Flowering season

June to September

English distribution

It is found throughout the country

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland –

Large Bindweed

Habitat

It is a neophyte which was introduced into the UK from

southern Europe in the early 1800s ands grown as a

showy garden plant.

It was recognised as an escape in the early 1860s and

has since become naturalised over the whole of the

country.

In the wild it grows over hedges, fences and on

waste ground, and although attractive it is considered

to be a weed.

Large Bindweed and Hedge Bindweed used to be

classed as a single species but were separated into

C. sepium and C. sylvestris in the late 1940s.

Description

Large Bindweed is a climbing, scrambling, perennial

herb growing up to 5m.

Flowers are white, slightly 5-lobed and up to 9cm

across. The centre of the corolla is yellow.

The corolla is trumpet-shaped and often has 

pink stripes.

The calyx is pale green and has 5 triangular lobes.

It is hidden by the 2 large green and purple

overlapping, pouched bracteoles.

There are 5 white stamens which are attached to 

the corolla.

The style is white with 2 white curved linear stigmas.

It protrudes above the stamens and persists on the

fruits.

The fruit is a green capsule which is hidden in the 

bracteoles.

Growth is vigorous and the leaves are arrow-shaped.

The stems climb by twisting in an anti-clockwise

direction.

Large Bindweed appears slightly more robust than

the native Hedge Bindweed.