APPEARANCE
Twinflower is a short trailing shrub, less than 10 centimetres tall, with long stems that run along the ground and send up shoots. The leaves are small and oval, and the pink trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in pairs at the top of the stem
RANGE & HABITAT
Twinflowers are most common in the northern half of B.C., but they are found through the whole province, as well as in the Yukon and Alaska down to California and New Mexico. They usually grow in shaded areas on mossy beds or under shrubs. They are happy in dry, moist, swampy or forested areas.
LIFE CYCLE
The scented flowers bloom in late spring and summer, and they ripen into small seeds that have hooks on them. The hooks catch on passing animals, and the animals carry the seeds throughout the forest. They also spread with their trailing stems.
ANIMAL USES
Bees and other insects like the smell of the flowers and help to pollinate them.
TRADITIONAL USES BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
The leaves are used for tea.
OTHER USES
Twinflowers are grown for ornamental rock and woodland gardens.
STATUS
COSEWIC: Not at Risk
CDC: Yellow
MORE INFORMATION
Photo: Kari Pihlaviita
More Sub-Boreal Interior species
