Convolvulus cneorum - Silver bindweed

Convolvulus cneorum, also known as silver bindweed due to the exceptional brightness of its silky foliage, is dazzling under the sun. Its endless spring to summer flowering, nestled in its green-silver foliage, takes the form of pretty funnel-shaped white flowers delicately veined with pale pink. It is a bright Mediterranean shrub of great ornamental value, decorative all year round. It is the perfect choice for landscaping dry rock gardens, seaside gardens or drought-tolerant gardens.

Originating from the Mediterranean basin, especially Croatia, Greece, Turkey, and Egypt, Convolvulus cneorum is a sun and seaside plant that thrives amongst rocks and stony, even limestone soils. Despite Convolvulus cneorum's origins, well-established plants are able to withstand brief frosts of around -10° C to -12° C (14° F to 10.4 ° F) if planted in very well-draining soil. Its tolerance to summer drought is very good.

Silver bindweed forms a dense and bushy spreading shrub, wider than it is tall, reaching a height of 40 cm to 50 cm (15.7 in to 19.7 in) and a width of up to 80 cm (31.5 in). Flowering begins in April-May (depending on the region) and continues until July-August. In the axils of the leaves and at the terminal part of the branches, small clusters of reddish-pink turbinate buds are born. They bloom into white flowers with yellow centres, measuring 2 cm to 4 cm (0.8 in to 1.6 in) in diameter, traversed by 5 pinkish veins. The foliage, very dense and evergreen in winter, is composed of small lanceolate oblong leaves, measuring 3 cm to 4 cm (1.2 cm to 1.6 in) in length and less than 1 cm (0.4 in) in width. Their green lamina is covered with numerous short and silky hairs responsible for the silvery and shiny appearance of the foliage. Visited by insects, its flowering gives way to fruit capsules containing tiny seeds.

Plant this extremely attractive little bush in the sun, in very well-draining soil, in a mineral garden, in a rock garden, above a wall or in a container where it will cascade elegantly. In cold regions with very humid winters, it is best to plant it in a pot to protect it in winter. Provide it with companions such as creeping rosemary, lavender, rockroses (Cistus skanbergii), thyme, creeping ceanothus (Ceanothus repens or prostratus), and sedums. In fact, choose any companion plant that appreciates the same somewhat 'arid' and mineral environments and scorching sun.