What is Linnaea?

The term Linnaea refers to a genus of plants with only one species, a low growing, creeping shrub type of perennial wildflower that has flowers and leaves that grow in pairs. It is commonly known as the twinflower and its scientific name is Linnaea borealis, named after a well-known botanist. It is related to honeysuckle, and it can be found in many environments within the northern hemisphere, particularly in forested areas. It has a very long life cycle, reproducing vegetatively once the plant is five to ten years old.

Linnaea is an evergreen, low growing sub-shrub, reaching heights of four to six inches (10 to 15 cm). The bright green, rounded leaves grow in pairs, and typically last for two years or more. Creeping runners known as stolons grow along the ground, taking root in the soil at yearly intervals. The plant produces pale pink flowers from June to September; they have a bell-like shape and grow in pairs on a delicate Y-shaped stem with one bloom on each tip.

The distribution of Linnaea is known as circumboreal, i.e., that they occur in forests all throughout the northern hemisphere. The range spreads from Scotland and northern Europe, to Greenland, through most of North America and Russia. It is most commonly found in open areas of the forest floor, particularly in pine forests. It can also be found on heaths and other open dry slopes. It does best in a cool shady environment, and can tolerate either moist or dry soil. Although it would make a lovely addition to any garden, it is seldom found in cultivation due to its extremely slow rate of growth.

Its species name "borealis" refers to its northern location. The genus Linnaea was named after noted botanist Carl Linnaeus. Linnaeus is known as the father of the modern classification system, or taxonomy, and was responsible for naming over 8,000 different plant species as well as numerous animals including humans.

It is possible for Linnaea to reproduce sexually via seeds, but this rarely occurs. The most common form of reproduction is vegetative, or from a piece of a parent plant; new plants have the exact same genetic material as the parent plant. Linnaea accomplishes this through the stolons, which are produced only after the plant is already five to ten years old. As the stolons grow, they send up vertical shoots and they branch out in different directions along the ground. When a branch separates from the stolon, it will grow into a new separate plant, reproducing the parent plant and continuing the life-cycle.