Sea Bindweed
Calystegia soldanella
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
Sea Bindweed trails across the fore-dune, its long stems lying flat on the sand with kidney-shaped fleshy leaves and large pink-and-white striped trumpet flowers. It's a beautiful plant and one of the characteristic fore-dune species of the Sefton Coast. The flowers only open fully in sunshine, closing on cloudy days. The root system reaches deep into the damp sand below the surface.
At a Glance
| Order | Solanales |
| Family | Convolvulaceae |
| Habitat | Fore-dune · Strandline · Mobile sand |
| UK population | Locally common on sandy beaches in Britain, declining |
| Sefton Coast | Present on fore-dunes at Formby and Ainsdale |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Fore-dune and strandline at Formby and Ainsdale. Trailing along the sand surface.
Identification
Trailing plant with kidney-shaped fleshy leaves. Large (4–5cm) pink-and-white striped trumpet flowers. Lying flat along the sand.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Walk the fore-dune at Formby in July on a sunny morning. The pink striped flowers are attractive and the kidney-shaped leaves are distinctive.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sea Bindweed related to the invasive garden Bindweed?
Sea Bindweed is in the same family (Convolvulaceae) as the invasive Hedge and Field Bindweeds but is a very different plant. It is not invasive, spreads slowly along dune faces, and is not found inland. The pink-and-white striped trumpet flowers are similar in form but much more attractive than the white flowers of garden bindweeds.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.