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Calystegia macrostegia (Island false bindweed)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Calystegia macrostegia (Greene) Brummitt

Island false bindweed, Woody morning glory, Island morning glory, California morning glory

Convolvulaceae (Morning-Glory Family)

USDA Symbol: CAMA24

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Native from southwestern California to nearby Baja California, along the coast and in adjacent chaparral, this long-blooming, perennial morning glory with large white to pale pink flowers can climb to thirty feet and is ideal for arbors, pergolas, and fences within its range. It is also useful as a slope-stabilizing groundcover for full sun, as long as it receives coastal quantities of moisture during the summer. Its vivid green, triangular leaves are carried on twining stems that emerge from a woody base called a caudex, hence the common name Woody Morning Glory. Several varieties are recognized, with those from islands often preferred for horticulture, as they have more prominent leaves.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub , Vine
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Deltoid
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Inflorescence: Axillary
Size Notes: Can climb to 30 feet.
Leaf: Green
Flower: Flowers 2-7 cm wide
Fruit:
Size Class: 12-36 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Notes: Color white or pale pink

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: Coastal and island southwestern California south to adjacent Baja California
Native Habitat: Open coastal habitats and nearby chaparral
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Soil Description: Well drained, rocky granite, sand, or clay loam soils of variable organic content, pH 6 to 8
Conditions Comments: Does best in full sun in moist, coastal areas. In drier sites, give afternoon shade. May defoliate during summer droughts, so water during dry spells.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Long-blooming white or muted pink flowers and lush, vigorous foliage for trellises, arbors, pergolas, fences
Use Wildlife: Butterflies visit flowers
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 7 - Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California (1993) Hickman, J.C. (ed.)
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

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Additional resources

USDA: Find Calystegia macrostegia in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Calystegia macrostegia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Calystegia macrostegia

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-11-30
Research By: GDG

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