Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Linnaea borealis (Twinflower)
Bengston, Bennie

Linnaea borealis L.

Twinflower, American twinflower

Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

USDA Symbol: libo3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This is a creeping ground cover with trailing stems reaching 3 ft. in length. These groups of slender, woody stems bear glossy, bright, evergreen leaves arranged in pairs. The delicately fragrant flowers are pinkish, bell-shaped and in nodding pairs at the end of 4-6 in. stalks.A low, delicate, matted evergreen plant with trailing stems having short, upright branches, each terminated by 2 pinkish-white, nodding bell-shaped flowers. Stems hairy. Twinflower was a favourite of the great Swedish botanist, Carl von Linne, who invented the system of binomial nomenclature.

A beautiful trailing plant of the North, this is the American variety of the European plant. It was named for Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), the father of modern botany, who was so fond of the flower he had his portrait painted with it. This charming plant makes a good ground cover in the woodland garden.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , CT , IA , ID , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SD , TN , UT , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Canada & AK, s. in the n. 1/3 of the U.S. & through the western mts. (Pacific plants are usually considered ssp. longiflora; others are ssp. americana)
Native Habitat: Cool, moist woods; peat knolls
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N), GL(N), SPM(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Drought Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Cool, moist, acidic, humus-rich soils.
Conditions Comments: Requires good drainage but will not tolerate drought.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Seeds, though hard to collect and slow to germinate, may be sown outside in late fall or the following spring without any cold treatment. An easier method of propagation is stem cuttings taken in late spring or by layering plant.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: A great groundcover in the woodland garden, give it room to spread.

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Native shade plants around fountain in California
March 18, 2009
Hi, we just put a fountain in our front yard. It is in a mostly shady area. I need to know what plants would go best around the fountain and survive in the shade.
view the full question and answer

Bibliography

Bibref 928 - 100 easy-to-grow native plants for Canadian gardens (2005) Johnson, L.; A. Leyerle

Search More Titles in Bibliography

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.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-03-25
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back