‘Look closely at hedge bindweed: its luminous white, trumpet-shaped flowers, twining stems and pale thick roots. It’s beautiful. And terrifying. It smothers other plants and drags them to the ground, like something that belongs in a science fiction movie – or, at least, the tropics.’
Weeds by Gareth Richards
Hedge Bindweed
Bindweed must be a terrifying competitor from a plant’s point of view. They die off during the cold winter months, leaving no visible trace, then seem to appear from nowhere during high summer. Once they have a foothold, they shoot towards the sun – their stem tips can complete a full circle in two hours! Considered a weed and a nuisance by many gardeners, I can’t help but admire this plant’s tenacity. According to Richards’, bindweed roots grow up to 3m underground (where the plant survives over winter) and individual plants can live for 50 years! I think that’s amazing. What’s more, bindweed flowers stay open on bright nights to attract hawkmoths. Can you imagine the white bells aglow in the moonlight, large moths flitting by like shadows. Magic. I’ve often seen this enchanting quality depicted in art but I haven’t found too much folklore about this plant, which is surprising considering its allure and voracious appetite for sunlight.
I spotted this lovely field bindweed, with complimentary metallic beetle, in Tuscany, Italy.
Bindweed is native to Ireland and you can spot the elegant white flowers all over Dublin in July. Apparently, bindweed always twines anti-clockwise when viewed from above. I’ll have to take a closer look next time.
Field Bindweed- Ireland
Bindweed is also known as bellbind, wild morning glory, granny’s nightcap, creeping jenny, bear-bind, hedgebells, lady’s smock… and many more strange and descriptive local names!
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Thanks for visiting the Wild Library blog today! Happy walking and plant hunting.
South African living in Dublin. My house is filled with books, plants, and unfinished laundry. I share my home with my husband, Henry, our two daughters and two mischievous cats… I love gardening, reading, taking long walks, drinking tea, and spying on my neighbours. If I could be anything, I’d like to be a weeping willow next to a river in a large park where I could enjoy the outdoors and listen to people’s stories.
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