Japanese Bindweed
Calystegia pubescens
Educational content — not medical, botanical, or professional advice. Plant identification, safety, and edibility depend on local conditions, cultivars, and correct identification. Consult a qualified botanist or forager before consuming or handling wild specimens. How we source & review →
Pl. 3D8F — Calystegia pubescens
Calystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescensCalystegia pubescens
IOverview
Overview
Japanese Bindweed, scientifically known as Calystegia pubescens, is a perennial vine native to regions including China North-Central, South-Central, and Southeast, Japan, Korea, the Kuril Islands, and Manchuria. This plant thrives in full sun and prefers moist conditions with light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay) soil. It can grow up to 3 meters tall and is hardy in zones 4-8. Japanese Bindweed is known for its edible parts—leaves, roots, and shoots—which make it a valuable food source. Its distinctive feature includes soft, hairy leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers that are often white or pinkish.
Quick answers
What is Japanese Bindweed?
Japanese Bindweed, scientifically known as Calystegia pubescens, is a perennial vine native to regions including China North-Central, South-Central, and Southeast, Japan, Korea, the Kuril Islands, and Manchuria.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Japanese Bindweed thrives in full sun and prefers moist soil that can be light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay). It is hardy in zones 4-8 and can grow up to 3 meters tall as a perennial. For propagation, it can be grown from seeds or divisions. The edible parts include leaves, roots, and shoots.
Light
Full sun
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
4-8
Life cycle
Perennial
Mature size
3.0 m tall
For first-time growers
How to grow Japanese Bindweed for the first time
8steps
Start with Japanese Bindweed as a simple, low-maintenance perennial for your garden.
- 1
What you'll need
A packet of seeds or young plants, a trowel, and mulch.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring after the last frost or in early fall.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Choose a location with well-draining soil that is light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay). Ensure it gets full sun.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds 1-2 cm deep in the ground. For containers, use a pot at least 30 cm wide and plant young shoots.
- 5
First two weeks
Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Water regularly to help establish roots.
- 6
Ongoing care
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, especially during hot weather. Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune back any dead or overgrown stems in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting too deep, neglecting to prune, not providing enough sunlight.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:LeavesRootShoots
Edible uses: Japanese Bindweed is edible and its leaves, shoots, and roots can be consumed. The young shoots are often prepared by cooking or boiling before eating. The leaves and roots may also be eaten raw in salads or cooked as a vegetable.
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
7 native · 20 introduced
Distribution
7 native · 20 introducedDistribution across1 continent· 7 native· 20 introduced
Asia3 regions
native (3)ChinaJapanSouth Korea
Broader regions
native:Kuril Is.
introduced:Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode I., Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Connecticut, Masachusettes, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXI
Explore further
Companion planting
Growing zone
XII
About this entry
- Last updated
- Citation
- How to cite this entry · Submit a correction
Back to the cataloguePlant id · 3d8f8b84-3461-40ce-81db-45330d3270ae
Decision aid
Choosing between Japanese Bindweed and something else?
Continue reading
❦❦❦❦
Endpaper · archive updates
Get archive updates
Occasional email when substantial new content lands — plant profiles, seasonal growing notes, folk-remedy additions. Free, no tracking, unsubscribe anytime.