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Devil's guts

Convolvulus arvensis (kon-VOLV-yoo-lus ar-VEN-sis)

Family: Convolvulaceae Non-native Vine (vertical)

Field bindweed is a vine in the Convolvulaceae (morning glory) family native to Europe and Asia. Found growing in moist thickets, fields, lawns, agricultural fields, and disturbed areas. The common name devil's guts refer to its tendency to grow in a messy trailing or twining manner forming tangled dense mats It is tolerant of poor soils and drought and prefers full sun, though it is most often found growing in moist areas like riparian corridors or areas that receive irrigation. This vine is cold tolerant. Native plants are easily outcompeted by this vine. Thought to be brought over through contamination of agriculture or horticulture products. It has sometimes been used as a groundcover or in hanging baskets but it quickly escaped cultivation and became weedy and aggressive, especially in disturbed sites. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: While the flowers are beautiful, it is considered an invasive and noxious weed in 35 States, mostly in the west and midwest from Michigan to California. It spreads by seeds, roots, and rhizomes and has an extensive root system making it very difficult to eradicate.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 52 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 6 - Vine (vertical)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Calystegia sepium
Similar, less problematic Jasminum officinale

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Vine; Wildflower
Life cycle
Annual; Perennial
USDA zones
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
12-24 feet; 24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Creeping; Spreading
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Rhomboidal; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
1-2 in. long and .5-1 inch across leaves are arrowhead-shaped but also vary in shape and size depending on light and soil moisture.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Funnel
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
3/4 inch funnel-shaped flowers with green bracts one inch below base of the flowering stalk appear in mid summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1/4 inch light brown round seed capsule with 2 seeds. Individual plants produce up to 500 seeds. Seeds remain viable for up to 20 years in the soil.
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Asia, Europe and Northern Africa
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Garden tags
#fall interest #summer flowers #pink flowers #delicate #white flowers #temperate #moist soil #aggressive #showy flowers #disturbed areas #high maintenance #vine #weedy
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Weedy
Propagation
Root Cutting; Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.