©Northeast Wildlife

Hedge bindweed

A climbing plant of woodlands, hedgerows, riverbanks and gardens, Hedge bindweed can become a pest in some places. It has large, trumpet-shaped, white flowers and arrow-shaped leaves.

Scientific name

Calystegia sepium

When to see

June to September

Species information

Statistics

Height: up to 3m

Conservation status

Common.

Habitats

About

Climbing and twisting through hedgerows, woodlands, ditches and riverbanks, the white flowers of Hedge bindweed are a familiar sight for many of us. Twining itself around other plants to assist its progress, this aggressive plant is often considered to be a weed in gardens, although it can provide excellent cover for fences and derelict buildings in towns and waste grounds. It flowers between June and September, but the twisting stems can be seen in spring.

How to identify

Hedge bindweed displays large, white flowers that look like the end of a trumpet. Its large leaves are arrow-shaped with long stalks. Its climbing nature and larger flowers can help to distinguish it from Field bindweed.

Distribution

Widespread.

Did you know?

Hedge bindweed has the ability to root from even the smallest fragments, spreading at an incredible rate. It's these features that make it unpopular in the garden.

How people can help

Our gardens are a vital resource for wildlife, providing corridors of green space between open countryside, allowing species to move about. In fact, the UK's gardens provide more space for nature than all the National Nature Reserves put together. So why not try leaving wilder areas in your garden, such as patches of buttercups in your lawn or nettles near your compost heap, to see who comes to visit? To find out more about encouraging wildlife into your garden, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.