<em>Convolvulus</em>, Turkish bindweed: sow, plant and care for
Contents
Convolvulus in a nutshell
- Convolvulus offers a long flowering of trumpet-shaped blue, pink or white flowers from May to October
- Unlike hedge bindweed, it is not invasive
- Floriferous, easy and low-maintenance, it only requires a warm position and well-drained soil to thrive
- Except for Convolvulus cneorum, they are not very hardy in our climates and are grown as annuals, as with Convolvulus tricolor
- Excellent plant for dry rockeries and coastal planting, also ideal in hanging baskets
A word from our expert
Bindweed, by its Latin name Convolvulus, provokes in every gardener, at mere mention, an uncontrollable urge to reach for white vinegar or bicarbonate of soda! And yet, bindweed is not just a weed people wonder how to get rid of!
Unlike climbing bindweed of hedgerows and fields (Calystegia sepium and Convolvulus arvensis), some perennial or annual species are not invasive and deserve to be planted in every garden. Among them, Convolvulus cneorum or Turkish bindweed, a shrub with silvery‑green foliage, Convolvulus sabatius or mauritanicus, two perennial bindweeds capable of withstanding brief frosts, and Convolvulus tricolor, the well‑known Morning Glory, an annual species. All produce trumpet‑shaped flowers throughout summer, ranging from white to indigo blue, through pink and red.
Undemanding, it grows in sun, in any good well‑drained garden soil, and, with exceptional flowering that renews abundantly for more than six months, Convolvulus is without doubt one of the best plants to add to a dry garden, in pots as well as in rockeries.
Easy to grow, discover our varieties of perennial Convolvulus as well as our unique selection of Morning Glory seeds!
Description and botany
Botanical data
- Latin name Convolvulus
- Family Convolvulaceae
- Common name bindweed, morning glory, Turkey bindweed, Mauritanian bindweed
- Flowering April to September
- Height 0.15 to 0.60 m
- Sun exposure sun
- Soil type dry, well-drained
- Hardiness variable depending on species
The Convolvulus, commonly called bindweed, is a plant native to rocky areas, arid, stony hills of the Mediterranean basin, particularly Turkey and Egypt. It belongs to the large family Convolvulaceae alongside ipomoea and morning glories.
Although Convolvulus in Latin means to coil, not all bindweed species are voluble! The genus includes about 250 species of annual herbaceous, perennial and even undershrub forms. Alongside wild species considered weeds, such as field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), false-mallow bindweed or Provence bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides) and hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) which, when they thrive, can become invasive, creeping or climbing into neighbouring plants, there are non-invasive Convolvulus.
Among the most widespread species are Convolvulus cneorum, silver bindweed or Turkey bindweed, Convolvulus sabatius, Mauritanian bindweed or the blue bindweed which are perennial bindweeds, and Convolvulus tricolor, more commonly called morning glory or tricolour bindweed, which is grown as an annual.
Under our climate, depending on species, they are grown as annuals or tender perennials. Some bindweeds survive our mild winters and are able to withstand brief frosts around -10 to -15°C; the morning glory is probably the most tender and will be grown as an annual in the coldest regions.
Driven by rapid and vigorous growth, the perennial or annual bindweed, unlike its ipomoea relatives, forms a dense, ramified shrub with a compact, spreading or trailing habit, reaching 10 to 50 cm in height and up to 80 cm in spread. Convolvulus tricolor or morning glory forms a creeping clump, while Convolvulus sabatius is ideal for hanging baskets.
Convolvulus cneorum – botanical illustration by P.J. Redouté
Its endless flowering that dots the foliage begins in March–April (depending on region) and only ends with the first frosts. In the axil of the leaves and at the tips of the shoots appear small clusters of turbinate buds that open into The flowers are plicate into five segments fused at the base to form a bell enclosed in a villous calyx. They are borne on a very short peduncle and show crenate margins with a soyeux underside.
These corollas, delicate and widely trumpet-shaped, open in solid or variegated shades. They unfold in pretty trumpets white, sometimes lightly washed with pale pink in Convolvulus cneorum, pastel blue in Convolvulus sabatius or indigo to sky blue, soft pink to mauve, red or white in morning glory. The latter species stands out from its sisters by an often unique pattern with more varied colours arranged in concentric halos of three contrasting colours, hence the name Tricolour bindweed.
The silky texture of the bindweed petals sometimes reveals fine veins through the corolla, recalling the delicacy of petunia or ipomoea flowers. The throat, containing yellow stamens, is highlighted by a small central star-shaped eye that enhances the corolla colour.
These fully open corollas open in the morning and curl up at nightfall, renewing generously until autumn.
This endless and melliferous flowering attracts many pollinating insects.
Flowers give way to dehiscent fruits in globular capsules containing very small seeds.
The vigorous, dense vegetation is deciduous, evergreen to semi-persistent depending on species and climate. Foliage varies by species. Well-ramified shoots bear small petiolate, entire, oblong lanceolate leaves 3 to 6 cm long on Convolvulus cneorum or Turkey bindweed. The latter bears characteristic leaves covered with silvery bristles and shiny and persistent all year round. Convolvulus althaeoides is characterised by entire leaves at the base, increasingly deeply divided towards the shoot tips, similar to those of mallows.
Well adapted to the Mediterranean climate of its origin, bindweed displays hardiness variable by species.
Some Convolvulus: C. sabatius, C. cneorum and C. tricolor
This dry rock garden plant is easy to grow in sun in a light, very well-drained soil, even stony, rocky or sandy, including calcareous soils. In the south it will accept partial shade. In cold regions it is preferable to plant it in a pot to protect it from frost in winter and bring it outside again during the warm season!
Bindweed is ideal in hanging baskets, window boxes or containers, in a mineral garden or seaside garden, in rockeries, on the edges of beds, over a low wall or in hanging baskets or large bowls from which it will trail in flowering cascades.
Read also
Bindweed: how to get rid of it?Main species and varieties
In the bindweed family, three groups can be distinguished :
- wild species, such as Convolvulus arvensis (field bindweed) and Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed), which are considered weeds because they grow rapidly to the point of literally engulfing neighbouring plants
- perennial bindweeds such as Convolvulus cneorum or Convolvulus sabatius which are neither invasive nor climbing
- Convolvulus tricolor, a more tender annual species
Unlike their wild cousins, these bindweeds have, a propensity to form beautiful groundcovers or to trail elegantly in flowering cascades and are very useful for dry rockeries, pots and hanging baskets on balconies and terraces.
Convolvulus cneorum - Silver bindweed
- Flowering time May to September
- Height at maturity 40 cm
Convolvulus sabatius Moroccan Beauty
- Flowering time July to November
- Height at maturity 30 cm
Blue Morning Glory - Convolvulus tricolor Royal Ensign seeds
- Flowering time July to October
- Height at maturity 16 cm
Dwarf Morning Glory Royal Ensign Seeds
- Flowering time July to October
- Height at maturity 40 cm
Convolvulus althaeoides
- Flowering time May to October
- Height at maturity 40 cm
Discover other Convolvulus
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Planting
Where to plant bindweed or Convolvulus?
Some bindweeds such as Convolvulus cneorum or silvery bindweed and Convolvulus althaeoides are relatively hardy and withstand short frosts (-8 to -15°C). Others, like Convolvulus sabatius or Mauritanian bindweed are grown as short-lived perennials in southern France, and Morning glory or Convolvulus tricolor as an annual in our climates. Most will only survive outdoors in regions where frost is not severe. In less favourable regions, bindweed can also be grown in pots or hanging baskets.
Undemanding, bindweed thrives in any well-drained soil and in a very sunny exposure sheltered from wind where it will flower more. It tolerates drought well and prefers light, stony, calcareous or sandy soil, strictly without excess water. It will not tolerate waterlogged conditions.
With rapid growth and few constraints, bindweed is useful for flowering a seaside garden or a holiday-home garden without watering.
Bindweed forms dense, flowering mats and creates a shrubby groundcover perfect in dry rockeries, in large containers, window boxes on a terrace or balcony, in hanging baskets, over a low wall or in large flowering drifts to punctuate path borders, to dress a path and the edges of summer bedding.
When and how to plant perennial bindweed?
Plant our perennial Convolvulus as plug plants or in bucket in open ground or in a pot, only when risks of severe frosts and extreme heat are avoided, from March to May or from September to November. Meanwhile, you can pre-grow them in pots to hasten growth in a conservatory or a bright greenhouse at a temperature above 14°C before planting outside.
In open ground
Plant about 3 to 5 bindweed plants per m². Space plants 30 to 60 cm in all directions depending on variety. On path or bed edges, plant in numbers to obtain a beautiful, low-maintenance display. In heavy soils, add river sand and compost.
In soil that retains too much moisture, do not hesitate to plant your Convolvulus in a raised bed or on a mound where water will drain away easily.
- Prepare ground with a shallow digging
- Dig a hole 2 to 3 times larger than size of the rootball
- Spread gravel or clay balls for perfect drainage
- Mix excavated soil with stones and gravel
- Place the plug plant at centre of hole, collar level with soil
- Replace soil to fill the hole
- Firm gently
- Water generously
How to plant Convolvulus in pots or hanging baskets
All Convolvulus are perfect in hanging baskets, window boxes, urns or container displays from which they trail in lovely cascades! In less favourable regions, this is even a good option. Plant in a rich, well-draining mix composed half of compost and river sand.
- Soak rootballs well before planting
- Spread a good drainage layer (gravel or clay balls) in a pot or a window box
- Plant in a mix of garden soil, compost and coarse sand
- Place in sun
- Water well then regularly as soon as surface soil is dry
You will find on our blog all secrets to plant a window box.
Scene with Convolvulus cneorum showing superb silvery foliage in foreground
Sowing
If you already had annual Convolvulus plants, you may have, after flowering, collected the small seeds contained in the dried capsules for future sowing. If not, choose from our Morning Glory seeds and sow in a seed tray or seedling flat from March to April, and directly in ground in May or June when soil is well warmed and temperatures reach 18-20°C.
In a seed tray
- Soak Morning Glory seeds in water for about 2 hours
- Sow seeds 3 cm deep in a seed tray filled with seed compost and a little sand
- Keep moist at 20°C until germination, which occurs between 5 and 14 days
- Prick out seedlings individually when they have strengthened or, if outdoor temperature permits, plant them in ground or in larger pots without disturbing the rootballs
For sowing directly in the ground, from May to June:
You can also sow Morning Glory seeds directly in warmed soil.
- Loosen soil to spade depth
- Sow in clusters of 4 to 5 seeds in holes the depth of the seeds, spaced every 30 cm
- Cover with a few centimetres of seed compost
- Firm down lightly with the back of a rake
- Keep soil moist until germination, which takes 1–2 weeks
- Thin seedlings to leave one plant every 15–20 cm
To learn everything about sowing annual seeds, discover our advice sheet: “Sowing annual seeds: how to do it successfully, directly in the ground or in seed trays”
Caring for Convolvulus
Once plant is well established, Convolvulus requires little maintenance. It is valuable in seaside gardens or where watering is not possible as it tolerates drought very well : water during dry spells, once or twice a week, allowing soil to dry out fully between waterings. In winter, water sparingly. Avoid excess water and always allow soil to dry between waterings.
Remove faded flowers as they appear using shears to prolong flowering.
For perennial varieties and in mild climate, prune clumps lightly at end of flowering and protect with a good mulch of dead leaves. In cold regions, perennial Convolvulus can be brought into frost-free shelter.
In less favourable regions, Convolvulus grown in pots should be repotted every year. In cold regions, lift Morning-glory plants that perish at first frost.
Diseases and potential pests
Only red spider mites in very dry, hot weather can be a formidable enemy for bindweed: mist foliage to dislodge them as they hate moisture.
Multiplication
Les Shrubby or perennial bindweeds are propagated by cuttings from May to July or divided in spring, while Morning glory, Convolvulus tricolor or tricolour bindweed reseeds every year, follow our advice above to sow Morning glory seeds.
Division
In March, divide clumps of perennial Convolvulus 2 or 3 years old.
- Lift clump with digging fork
- Separate rootball into several divisions each with roots
- Replant each young plant immediately in a pot or in ground in well-draining soil
How to make a cutting of Convolvulus
- Take non-flowering stem tips about 15 cm long
- Remove lower leaves, keep only 2 upper leaves
- Plant your cuttings in a very light mix of potting compost and sand kept slightly moist until rooting
- Place cuttings at 20 °C
- Grow in individual buckets sheltered from frost until following spring
- Prick out into ground after last frosts or into larger pots
What to plant with convolvulus
In hanging baskets, window boxes, rockeries, flowerbed edges or borders, Convolvulus adapts to every desire, in ground or in pots, in all gardens natural or naturalistic or romantic, dry gardens and seaside gardens to contribute to very floriferous displays. With pastel or bright colours, it allows chic or dynamic combinations.
At edge of a romantic bed in pink, blue and white harmonies, silver bindweed and Convolvulus sabatius will bring a delicate touch to the feet of roses, lavateras, Alcea rosea or a Cape mallow, surrounded by Achillea (yarrow), agastaches, Italian buglosses, dentelaire, Echinops, sea hollies.
An idea for a combination on a sunny bank: Convolvulus cneorum, Genista tinctoria ‘Royal Gold’, Stipa tenuifolia and Erigeron karvinskianus
To create a grey, downy tapetum, bring silver bindweed Convolvulus cneorum close to a Cerastium tomentosum also called mouse‑ear, Anaphalis margaritacea or silver immortelle, santolinas, and Armeria maritima or thrift.
In rockery, pair Convolvulus cneorum with plants that enjoy similar slightly dry conditions such as alpine asters, campanulas, Dianthus deltoides or Dianthus arenarius or sand carnation, helianthemums, Arabis caucasica, deslosperma, bergenias and aubrietas. Accent with a few clumps of carex, blue oat grass, Dianthus plumarius, blue fescue.
In a mineral garden, offer silver bindweed Mediterranean perennials such as santolinas, everlastings, rosemary and creeping ceanothus, lavenders, cistus and sedums.
Its flowers with pastel shades will work wonders with the purplish foliage of heucheras or the glaucous foliage of poppies to create very gentle scenes in the height of summer.
In a border of summer‑flowering perennials, Convolvulus will weave its way between penstemons, light grasses, perennial flax, Nigellas.
In pots and hanging baskets, Mauritanian bindweed and morning glory will make very attractive combinations with verbenas, Petunia ‘Surfinia’, bidens, lantanas, zinnias, Diascias in contrasting or softer colour schemes.
An example of a hanging basket combination: Convolvulus sabatius, Lobelia ‘Snow White’ (or ‘Hot Bavaria’, which is also very pretty!), Petunia ‘Tumbelina Belinda’ and Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’
In pots, mix them with other annuals such as Impatiens, morning glories, lobelias and geraniums.
Useful resources
- Discover our tips for pairing convolvulus
- Choose companions for your Belles-de-jour from our unique collection of annuals
- Discover our best ideas to flower your balconies and terraces
- Annuals dress any space they’re given in a few weeks: discover our ideas!
- What to plant in dry soil?
- Hardy and tolerant of summer drought, discover our sun-loving ground-cover perennials
- Subscribe!
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