Morning Glory—Convolvulus arvensis aka Field Bindweed

An aggressive perennial, morning glory spreads by rhizomes (creeping horizontal roots) and by creeping stems to form a dense ground cover. It can be found in orchards, fields, lawns, stream banks, lake shores, roadsides and ditches.

morning glory infestation
Also called field bindweed, morning glory is an invasive perennial originally from Europe, North Africa and Asia.

morning glory stems
Its twining stems are 1½ to 6 feet long, and grow along the ground or up and around nearby plants and structures.

morning glory flowers
Flowers are bell or funnel-shaped, white to light pink, ¾ to 1 inch in diameter.

morning glory leaves
Leaves are arrow-shaped, with smooth edges, 1 to 2 inches long.

morning glory seeds
Reproduces by seed and by rhizomes (creeping horizontal roots). Seeds can remain viable for 50 years.

morning glory stems caught in tractorThe long, twining stems can be a serious problem for farmers.

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Identification and Control Information

[Photos, left to right: Barry Rice, sarracenia.com, Bugwood.org; Jan Samanek, State Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org; K. George Beck & James Sebastian, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; K. George Beck & James Sebastian, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org; John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org]