Practical
Plants

Calystegia soldanella

Sea Bindweed

a perennial woody member of the Calystegia genus in the family Convolvulaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Bees, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This species is said to be purgative[5], some caution is advised.

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - cooked as a vegetable or pickled and used as a samphire substitute[6][2]. Caution is advised since the plant might have a purgative effect[5].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Antiscorbutic, diuretic, febrifuge, irritant, purgative and vermifuge[8].

Product or use
Antiscorbutic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Irritant
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The stems are very flexible and are used as a string for tying[9]. Fairly strong but not long-lasting[K].

Product or use
String

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
Coastal areas of Europe, including Britain, N. Africa, Asia, N. and S. America and Australasia.
Habitat
Sandy and shingly sea shores and dunes[1][4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame in a free draining compost and only just cover. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[3]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring whilst dormant[7].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in ordinary well-drained garden soil in a sunny position[1][7]. This species is very difficult to establish successfully in the garden[1].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00

    ↩

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  5. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩1↩2

  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  8. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  9. Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2

    ↩

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