Beggar'S-Buttons vs Climbing Bindweed

Arctium lappa compared with Fallopia scandens

Key Differences

• Beggar'S-Buttons is Least Concern while Climbing Bindweed is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Beggar'S-Buttons	Climbing Bindweed
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)	Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)
Family	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)	Polygonaceae
Genus	Arctium	Fallopia
Species	Arctium lappa	Fallopia scandens

Evolutionary Relationship

Beggar'S-Buttons and Climbing Bindweed share a common ancestor at the Class level: Magnoliopsida. (Dicots)

Conservation Status

Beggar'S-Buttons

LC — Least Concern

Climbing Bindweed

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Beggar'S-Buttons	Climbing Bindweed
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Beggar'S-Buttons

Habitat

Inhabits temperate coniferous forests within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Algeria), Asia (North Korea, Taiwan), Europe (11 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and South America (Brazil).

Climbing Bindweed

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Distributed across Canada, Norway, and United States.

Beggar'S-Buttons

The Beggar'S-Buttons (Arctium lappa) is a species in the genus Arctium. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits temperate coniferous forests within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Climbing Bindweed

Climbing Bindweed, Calystegia sepium or related Convolvulus species in the family Convolvulaceae, is a vigorous twining perennial vine native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, widely naturalized in disturbed habitats worldwide. The species climbs over hedgerows, fences, tall herbs, and shrubs by twining its flexible stems counterclockwise around supporting structures, sometimes smothering vegetation under dense leafy growth. The leaves are broadly arrow-shaped or hastate, and the funnel-shaped flowers are large, white to pale pink, and open during daylight hours. Like its relatives, Climbing Bindweed has deeply buried, extensively spreading rhizomes that are extremely difficult to eradicate once established. The extensive root system enables survival of herbicide treatments and mechanical disturbance, making the species a persistent weed in gardens, agricultural land, and riparian habitats. Despite its weedy character, the flowers provide nectar for bumblebees and are visited by hawk moths at dusk. The species is not threatened globally; it is considered common and often invasive across temperate regions. It has considerable cultural significance, appearing frequently in art and folklore as a symbol of persistence and entanglement.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇨🇦 Canada 🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇸 United States