Creeping Oregon Grape vs Twinflower - TreeTime.ca

Creeping Oregon Grape vs Twinflower

Linnaea borealis

Mahonia repens

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Twinflower
Creeping Oregon Grape

Twinflower is a native, trailing evergreen ground cover known for its delicate flowers that grow in nodding pairs. These pale pink blooms are described as being sweetly fragrant, attracting native bees and other pollinators.

Growing in cool, moist, acidic soils, the trailing stems form roots as they spread and start to form mats across the forest floor. Due to its woody stem, it is technically classified as a shrub and often referred to as a subshrub or dwarf shrub. This species is well-suited for naturalization, restoration, and conservation projects.

Twinflower (Linneae borealis) was named in honour of Carl Linnaeus, who adopted it as his personal emblem.

Creeping Oregon Grape is an excellent ground cover plant with attractive, dark green, holly-like leaves. It maintains its leaves throughout winter, which turn mauve, rose, and rust-colored. Clusters of bright, yellow flowers develop into dark, blue-purple edible berries ideal for juice or wine.

Twinflower Quick Facts

Creeping Oregon Grape Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 5a
Height: 0.1 m (0.4 ft)
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: long
Growth form: creeping or trailing, ground cover
Spreading: stolons - medium, seeds - low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: reddish tinge
Fall colour: purple and bronze
Flowers: Pink, bell-shaped, fragrant pairs
Flowers: yellow
Bloom time: summer
Fruit: large blue/purple
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Native to: AB, BC
Other Names: northern twinflower, pink bells
Other Names: ash barberry, creeping barberry, creeping holly grape, creeping mahonia, creeping oregon-grape, creeping western barberry, holly grape, mountain holly, oregon barberry