Navigation

Linnaea borealis

Linnaeaceae

Twinflower

Linnaea borealis
Creeping evergreen vine, often forming large mats. Stems with short-petioled leaves. Leaves opposite, oval, shiny, with few shallow teeth on upper edges. Flowers in pair at top of leafless, 2 in., erect stalk. Flowers are fragrant, pale pink, trumpet-shaped, nodding bells. Seed, when dry, has sticky hairs that attach to passing creatures for dispersal. Grows in moist shady woods, forests, from near coastline to timberline. Circumboreal. The genus is named for Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778), father of modern botanical nomenclature.

  • Rarity: Common
  • Flowering Time: Early Summer, Mid Summer, Late Summer
  • Flower Form: 5 petals, vines
  • Life Cycle: Perennial
  • Height: 2–6 inches
  • Habitat: East-side Forest, West-side Forest
  • Found In: Crater Lake NP, Mt. Rainier NP, N Cascades NP, Olympic NP, Siskiyous, West Gorge
  • Native: Yes

Map of where Linnaea borealis is found