Convolvulus arvensis

RHS Plant Profile

field bindweed

Other common names

bearbind, bine, corn lily, cornbind, lap love, sheepbind, small bindweed, cwlwm y cythrael

Herbaceous Perennial

A native perennial wildflower with trailing stems that can fan out across bare ground, or twine up other plants. It has small, greyish-green, oblong to arrowhead-shaped leaves and white to pale pink flowers up to 2.5cm across in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Convolvulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing, Matforming, Trailing
Genus: Convolvulus can be annuals, perennials or shrubs, erect or scrambling, with simple or palmately divided leaves and solitary or clustered, open funnel-shaped flowers
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Occurs naturally in farmland and other cultivated areas, roadsides, rough grassland and waste ground. A tough survivor that may need to be controlled in some areas of the garden, but can be tolerated in wilder spots for its attractive flowers and biodiversity value. See bindweed for more information

Propagation

Spreads from underground sections of stem and roots, or by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free