Question
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I was wondering if you could help me identify this? The vine popped up in my backyard recently and I have no idea what it is... I live in Long Island, NY. This vine seems to be taking over part of my backyard, totally taking over the hostas and shrubs that are also in the same area. Can't really estimate the length of the vine, but it has white bell shaped flowers now growing on it. I have attached an image hope it is good enough.I would appreciate any info you have.
Thanks in advance,
Laura
AnswerI'm sorry to say you have Hedge Bindweed, Calystegia sepium (sometimes called Convolvulus sepium). It's a weed related morning glories. It grows quickly and pulls on the vegetation it climbs on. It shades bushes and trees, stealing the sunlight they need. It also uses soil nutrients your more desirable plants need. It can reproduce from seed and from pieces of root left behind and is very hard to get rid of.
Unfortunately, because it grows so close to other plants, there is really no solution other than pulling it out by hand, trying to dig out as much of the #fibrous and extensive# roots as possible. Particularly try to pull it before it sets seed.
The shape of the leaves is very distinctive: triangular, but with the corners near the stem cut off squarely. Young shoots may have smaller leaves, but they will have the same shape to them. Learn to recognize this shape (I can't think of anything you would want to grow with leaves like this) and pull any plant with these leaves as soon as you see it.
There is a relative of this weed, called field bindweed, with plain triangular to heart-shaped leaves and smaller flowers that grows in lawns and their edges. Also a weed, but not nearly as likely to kill off your bushes. Garden morning glories are quite pretty and generally much less likely to take over.
By the way, bindweeds are poisonous but generally don't irritate your hands. If you have been pulling it out barehanded be sure to wash your hands well before eating.
