Native Plants: Twinflower

This little creeping sub-shrub or shrublet is named after Carolus Linnaeus, who gave us our current system of classifying and naming plants. The twinflower (Linnaea borealis) was also said to be Linnaeus' favorite plant, and he was the one who named it Linnaea. It is also the emblem for the province in Sweden which was Linnaeus' home. While a lot of attention may not be given in the literature to this little plant, you will definitely give it some if you happen to be strolling through the woods when it is in bloom.

The twinflower can be found in mountainous regions throughout the world, including those of Europe, most notably the Alps. It is also found in the mountains of Asia, northern Japan, and in the United States; i.e., northern California, Arizona, and in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. In northern England and Scotland, the twinflower is found in open pine woods; although, it is on the decline in this area. Note: The twinflower has been divided into various subspecies, usually indicating the regions of the world in which it is found, most notably: L. borealis x americana in North America, L. borealis x borealis in Europe, and L. borealis x longiflora in Asia.

The twinflower is an evergreen perennial with small oval leaves. This plant's common name comes from the flowers that usually bloom in pairs from June through September. The drooping, bell-shaped flowers are white or pink with inner red stripes and are very fragrant. (You will not be able to miss them when you take that stroll the woods.) The twinflower is a member of the same family of plants (Caprifoliaceae) to which honeysuckles belong. Twinflowers, however, are much lower-growing than honeysuckles -- only 4-6 inches tall, and tend to creep along the ground. The roots are shallow, usually establishing themselves just below the leaf litter found on forest floors. It also spreads over time -- usually anywhere from 5-10 years -- through stolens that eventually bury themselves under the leaf litter. The seedpods, which appear about a month after flowering, also will attach themselves to passing animals and are then deposited elsewhere in the woods. This method of dispersal is probably most notable following forest fires, when the seeds are dropped in burned-out areas and where the twinflower then takes hold in moist leaf litter that has managed to escape the worst effects of a forest fire. The twinflower, however, establishes itself very slowly.

You might be tempted to take a rhizome or two home with you to establish in your own garden. I would recommend, however, that if you are on public land, such as a national forest, that you first check the regulations for your area. Many state and national parks frown upon any plants being removed, and violators can face stiff penalties. On the other hand, some will actually allow some plants to be harvested. If you are able to gather some twinflowers for your own woodland area, plant them in acidic soil in open shade, similar to the conditions found on the forest floor that is their natural habitat. Of course, you can always look for online nurseries that specialize in native plants. While you are deciding how to bring this lovely native into your own landscape, however, do take the time to enjoy the twinflower in its native habitat.

References:

Arkive: Images of Life on Earth. Twinflower (Linnaea borealis).

Rook.org: Linnaea borealis: Twinflower

Wikipedia. Linnaea