Twinberry, these berries are good to eat
#NativePlantsofOregon
- Common Name: Twinberry, Honeysuckle, Black Twinberry
- Binomial Name: Lonicera involucrata
- Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
- Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade
- Form/Growth: Ornamental shrub
- Foliage: Deciduous
- Flower/ Fruit: Yellow flowers and black fruit
The genus of Lonicera is well-known in the northern hemisphere including about 150 different species, less than 20 varieties reside in North America. The involucrata variety of Twinberry is the widest ranging of the genus that is found from Alaska down to Mexico and east to the Rockies. Twinberry are mostly seen in forest settings and along water ways where they get plenty of water. They are usually long-lived and can reach a height of 10 feet tall.
When this shrub flowers in mid-spring to late summer it has a pair of tubular, yellow flowers around 1 inch (2cm) in length that hummingbirds love to visit. Black berries are then produced that are inedible to humans but birds are attracted to them.
This Native Plant of the Month is brought to you by the City of Beaverton’s Landscape and Urban Forestry Department. Visit Clean Water Service’s Native Plant Finder webpage for interactive questions to help you find the right native plant to fit your needs!
