Twinflower vs Alpine Bluegrass - TreeTime.ca

Twinflower vs Alpine Bluegrass

Linnaea borealis

Poa alpina

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Twinflower
Alpine Bluegrass

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.

Alpine Bluegrass is a native perennial bunchgrass adapted to cold, high-altitude, and northern environments. It establishes well in harsh mountain and tundra conditions, thriving even in nutrient-poor soils. Its dense tufts provide reliable ground cover in alpine and subalpine habitats.

Hardy and low-maintenance, Alpine Bluegrass is valued in revegetation and erosion control projects due to its strong root system. It provides forage for wildlife and livestock, while its dense growth also offers cover for small animals. Well-suited for reclamation and soil stabilization in high-elevation and northern regions, Alpine Bluegrass is a key species for strengthening fragile landscapes, though it is also found in lower-elevation sites.

Twinflower Quick Facts

Alpine Bluegrass Quick Facts

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


Fall colour: reddish tinge
Flowers: Pink, bell-shaped, fragrant pairs
Bloom time: summer
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, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NL, YT, NT, NU
Other Names: northern twinflower, pink bells
Other Names: alpine speargrass, mountain speargrass