Nearly all taxa in Calystegia intergrade geographically into neighboring taxa with the exception of the widespread coastal species, C. soldanella (Linnaeus) R. Brown. It is impossible to draw clearly defined specific limits, and intermediate forms are always found where two taxa approximate geographically[].

Common Name: Sea Bindweed

General Information

Calystegia soldanella is a herbaceous perennial plant producing prostrate to slightly twining stems up to 100cm long from a wide-spreading, branching rhizomatous rootstock[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, material for tying and possibly as a food.

Known Hazards

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

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Almost worldwide along the coasts of Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, the Pacific Islands and Australasia.

Habitat

Sandy and shingly sea shores and dunes[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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

Edible Uses

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

Medicinal

The plant is antiscorbutic, diuretic, febrifuge, irritant, laxative, purgative and vermifuge[].

Other Uses

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

Propagation

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[]. 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[].