# Sea Bindweed (*Calystegia soldanella*) Sea Bindweed is a pretty flower that grows near the beach. Its lovely white or pink blooms open in the sun and can be found climbing on sand dunes and coastal areas. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Sea Bindweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Calystegia_soldanella_060524wb.jpg&width=800) Photo: User:Strobilomyces, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calystegia_soldanella_060524wb.jpg) ## Appearance The Sea Bindweed has glossy, fleshy, kidney-shaped leaves that sprawl along the sand. Its bell-shaped flowers are a beautiful pinkish-purple with five distinctive white stripes radiating from the center, making them stand out against the green foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Solanales - **Family:** Convolvulaceae - **Genus:** Calystegia ## Interesting facts - It sometimes has underground stems that can grow over a meter long! - Its name 'soldanella' means 'little coin' in Latin, like the shape of its leaves! - This plant is a super sand-hero, helping to build and protect our precious beaches! - You can find Sea Bindweed growing right where the ocean waves sometimes splash! ## Special abilities - **Sand Anchor:** Sea Bindweed has deep, strong roots that help it hold onto loose sand, preventing erosion and stabilizing dunes. - **Salt Shield:** Sea Bindweed can tolerate salty sea spray and sandy soil, allowing it to thrive where other plants cannot. - **Creeping Colonizer:** Sea Bindweed has long, creeping stems that rapidly spread across the sand, quickly covering open areas. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-20 cm - **Spread:** 50-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Convolvulus Hawk-moth (*Agrius convolvuli*) — Larvae feed on the leaves - **Pollinates:** Western honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Collects nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [European rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Feeds on leaves and stems ## Traits - [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sea Bindweed? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Sea Bindweed? 5-20 cm ### How wide does Sea Bindweed spread? 50-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Sea Bindweed? 3-5 cm ### When does Sea Bindweed bloom? Summer ### Is Sea Bindweed edible? Yes ### Is Sea Bindweed toxic? None ### What is Sea Bindweed's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/guadalupe-nipomo-dunes) — California, US · Natural Landmark - [Barayo Partial Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barayo-partial-nature-reserve) — Principado de Asturias, ES · Park - [Hitachi Seaside Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hitachi-seaside-park) — Kanto, JP · Park - [Dunas de Liencres y Costa Quebrada Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dunas-de-liencres-costa-quebrada) — Cantabria, ES · Park - [Minami Boso Quasi-National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/minami-boso-quasi-national-park) — Chiba, JP · Park - [San'inkaigan National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saninkaigan-national-park) — Kansai / Chugoku, JP · Park [View all places to see Sea Bindweed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sea-bindweed) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Sea Bindweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sea-bindweed)