This little gem has been catching the eyes of customers while wandering through the nursery here at Fernwood. Linnaea borealis (commonly known as Twinflower) is a sweet little Maine native that often goes unnoticed in the woodland, except for when it is in flower. A small trailing ground cover with glossy evergreen leaves and dainty bell-shaped pink and white flowers, it surprises people with its sweet all-spicey fragrance. The nodding twin flowers are held on an erect stem about 3-4 inches above their (also twin) leaves. Sometimes the smallest and less obvious plants can be the most delightful ones to happen upon!
Apr
11
2022
Fernwood Nursery & Gardens 
love your 6 a.m. posts!
I grew up in southern Maine but do not remember ever seeing this flower. it is indeed delightful!
Love this little woodland gem, Linda…thanks for reading. It has a fairly diverse habitat…not fussy, but often overlooked ( perhaps even stepped on!), when walking through the woods. Glad we have propagated it and have it available here at the nursery for people to enjoy!
I love spotting this little beauty on woods walks, but you’re right that I would probably never notice it without flowers. I would love to have it in my natives-only woodland garden! Thanks for the lovely photographs.
Thanks for visiting the blog, Ginny. This is one of our favorite little woodlands! be sure and get down and smell its fragrance next time you spot in the woods!
I’ve never heard of this–such a pretty little thing!
Great little plant, Kerry…a sweet little native but does often go unnoticed. Hope your summer is going well!
This is such a sweet little plant. the only time I have ever seen it in bloom was on a hike in September in Nova Scotia! I have grown a few plants from seed and they are spreading so well in my woodland garden for the past few years, but they have never flowered! I wonder if there is anything I should be doing to help it to blossom?