Twinberry Honeysuckle

(Lonicera involucrata)

Twinberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Lonicera involucrata, commonly known as Twinberry Honeysuckle, is a semi-deciduous to deciduous shrub native to moist forest margins, stream banks, and wetlands in Western North America, including the Pacific Northwest and parts of Eastern Canada. It typically grows 0.5–5 m high and is characterized by its shoots with a quadrangular cross-section. The yellow, tubular, hairy flowers, measuring 1–2 cm long, are monoecious and produced in pairs, each pair subtended by a pair of reddish basal bracts 2–4 cm across. The fruit is a black berry, 6–12 mm in diameter, containing several small seeds and ripens in mid-to-late summer. The berries are not particularly showy but are attractive to wildlife.

Twinberry Honeysuckle is valued for its adaptability to wet conditions and is often utilized in restoration projects, especially in riparian zones for stream bank stabilization. Its resistance to air pollution makes it suitable for urban environments. In gardens, it provides a naturalistic look and can serve as a background shrub or part of a mixed border. It thrives best in full sun to part shade and requires high amounts of water, preferring soils with medium to slow drainage. While not known for major disease issues, it can suffer from powdery mildew in overly dry conditions. Twinberry Honeysuckle is not typically aggressive but should be monitored to ensure it does not spread beyond its intended area in the garden.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Shrub
  • Height: 6-15 feet
  • Width: 6-10 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: Yellow
  • Flowering Season: Summer, Spring
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Fire Resistant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance

Natural Habitat

Moist forest margins, stream banks, and wetlands in Western North America and parts of Eastern Canada

Other Names

Common Names: California Honeysuckle, Bearberry Honeysuckle, Bracted Honeysuckle, Black Twinberry, Twinberry, Svøb-Gedeblad, Behüllte Heckenkirsche, Skärmtry

Scientific Names: , Lonicera involucrata, Distegia involucrata, Lonicera involucrata var. serotina, Lonicera involucrata var. flavescens, Lonicera intermedia, Capraria flavescens, Caprifolium flavescens, Caprifolium involucratum, Distegia flavescens

GBIF Accepted Name: Lonicera involucrata (Richards.) Banks ex Spreng.