Plant · GBIF taxon 2928441
hedge bindweed
Calystegia sepiumAlso known as Rutland Beauty, Greater Bindweed, Bellbind, Heavenly Bells
Hedge bindweed twines counterclockwise around neighboring stems, fence lines, and thickets to lift its broad, heart-shaped leaves toward full sunlight. Its pristine white-to-pink, trumpet-shaped flowers open early in the morning and close by late afternoon or during rainy weather. Beneath the soil, a persistent network of creeping white rhizomes allows this vigorous vine to spread aggressively and regenerate from tiny root fragments.
Perennial VineFloweringAggressive Grower
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Tortoise Beetles
- Aphids
- Caterpillars
ThreatsHabitat management, herbicides, and mechanical weed control
HabitatsHedgerows, riverbanks, waste ground, gardens, and field margins
Life spanPerennial (rhizomes live indefinitely)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderSolanales
- FamilyConvolvulaceae
- GenusCalystegia
- SpeciesCalystegia sepium
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains purgative glycosides that cause digestive distress if eaten; keep away from children and pets.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains alkaloid compounds and resin glycosides that act as strong purgatives, causing severe gastrointestinal distress if ingested.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for broad heart-shaped leaves and large white trumpet flowers backed by two leafy green bracts.
- What to do
- Wear gloves when clearing dense tangles to avoid sap contact, and never ingest any part of the plant.
Responsible observation
- Garden Management: Excavate the entire creeping rhizome network to prevent broken root segments from resprouting.
- Wildlife Observation: Watch the flowers on warm mornings to spot visiting bumblebees and night-flying moths.
Congener no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 · cc0
Herbivore 
Close Relative (c) William Stephens, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Family Member no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 · cc0
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