Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Convolvulus althaeoides L.

Fully hardy, vigorous, slender, climbing or trailing perennial with heart-shaped, lobed, hairy, silvery-green leaves and axillary clusters of 1-3 widely funnel-shaped, clear pink flowers to 4cm across, in summer.  To 15 cm.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Flore des Serres figures the variety argyreus with silvery foliage.  [FS f.1021/1855]. Introduced to Britain in 1597.  [JD].  ‘The name of Althaeoides and the description of Linnaeus accord much better with the figure of this plant, as given by Clusius, than with the plant itself as cultivated in our gardens: whether the foliage of our plant becomes smaller and more finely divided by cultivation; whether it be a distinct species, as Miller affirms, or a permanent variety, as Mr. Aiton makes it, we have not been able satisfactorily to ascertain; the former gives no description of the radical leaves of his elegantissimus, and we have not found in any of our gardens a variety different from the one here figured.  This species of Convolvulus, though cultivated here by J. Tradescant in 1656, is far from being common, which is the more surprising, as the plant is easy of culture and productive of flowers at once large and beautiful, and peculiarly interesting from the extreme variableness of its silky foliage, expanding into the most elegant forms imaginable.’  [BM t.359/1797].

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1857 catalogue only [T.342/1857].

Notes

Convolvulus althaeoides Ten. = Convolvulus tenuissimus Sibth. & Sm.

Convolvulus althaeoides Thunb. (1807) = Convolvulus thunbergii Roem. & Schult.

Published Mar 09, 2009 - 03:32 PM | Last updated Jul 16, 2010 - 03:25 PM

Shown are heart-shaped leaves, deeply divided leaves and funnel-shaped pink flowers.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.359, 1797.

Convolvulus althaeoides L. | BM t.359/1797 | BHL

Family Convolvulaceae
Category
Region of origin

Southern Europe

Synonyms
Common Name

Bindweed

Name in the Camden Park Record

Convolvulus althaeoides 

Confidence level high