Convolvulus sepium subsp. roseata

Botanical name: Convolvulus sepium subsp. roseata
Synonyms: Calystegia sepium subsp. roseata, Convolvulus sepium subsp. sepium sensu NZ authors (misapplied)
Common name(s): Pink Bindweed

About:
A vigorous indigenous climbing vine with twining stems, pink trumpet-shaped flowers and arrow-shaped leaves. Although often mistaken for introduced bindweeds, this pink-flowered coastal form is native to New Zealand and widespread throughout much of the country.

Natural habitat:
Coastal and lowland successional habitats, wetland margins, shrublands, rough pasture, roadsides and disturbed open ground.

Growing environment:
Thrives in sunny open environments with moderate moisture and fertile soils. Common in disturbed habitats and readily colonises open areas, especially near wetlands and coastal margins.

Endemic distribution:
Indigenous throughout New Zealand including the Three Kings, North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. Also indigenous throughout much of the southern hemisphere.

Height:
Climbing stems extending several metres

Width:
Spreading extensively by rhizomes and layered stems

Flowering:
September – April (-June)

Fruiting:
October – August

Uses:

• Coastal revegetation
• Wetland edge plantings
• Native vine collections
• Habitat restoration
• Erosion control on banks
• Ecological succession studies

Appearance:
Growth habit:
Summer-green rhizomatous perennial vine with vigorous twining stems and extensive underground root systems.

Foliage:
Leaves membranous, dark to yellow-green, narrowly triangular to sagittate, sometimes with elongated basal tails and deeply cleft sinuses.

Flowers:
Large funnel-shaped pink flowers with prominent white mid-petal bands, borne singly on long stalks. Flowers are showy and produced over an extended season.

Flower colours:
Red/Pink, White

Fruit:
Papery subglobose capsules containing dark brown to almost black triangular seeds.

Ecology:
An aggressive climbing species of disturbed habitats that can rapidly overgrow surrounding vegetation. Capsules may be dispersed by water and wind, while rhizomes and layered stems enable rapid vegetative spread. Frequently hybridises with other bindweed species in New Zealand.

Associated habitats:
Common around wetland margins, coastal shrublands, rough pasture, roadside vegetation and open disturbed ground.

How to grow:
Very easy to grow but generally unsuitable for cultivation due to its highly aggressive and weedy nature. Can rapidly smother surrounding vegetation if not carefully managed.

Propagation:
Extremely easy from seed, rhizome fragments, layered stems and rootstock pieces.

Cultural use:
An indigenous climbing vine recognised as part of New Zealand’s native coastal and lowland flora.

Garden value:
Despite its attractive pink flowers, this species is generally unsuitable for gardens because of its aggressive climbing habit and invasive spread. It is best appreciated as part of natural coastal and wetland ecosystems.