Twinflower (Linnaea borealis) is in the honeysuckle family family (Caprifoliaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,329 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Twinflower: observations by month (U.S.)
About Twinflower
Linnaea borealis is a species of flowering plant in the family Caprifoliaceae (the honeysuckle family). Until 2013, it was the only species in the genus Linnaea. It is a boreal to subarctic woodland subshrub, commonly known as twinflower (sometimes written twin flower).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Twinflower by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 390 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Oregon | 168 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Maine | 165 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 143 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Alaska | 87 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 74 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Minnesota | 50 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Montana | 49 | July | Jun–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 46 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Colorado | 39 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New York | 38 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 36 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Idaho | 27 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wyoming | 7 | July | Jul–Jul |
| South Dakota | 5 | July | Jun–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (honeysuckle family)
Japanese honeysuckle
Amur honeysuckle
Coral Honeysuckle
Pink Honeysuckle
Twinberry Honeysuckle
Shortspur Seablush
Northern Bush Honeysuckle
Edible Valerian
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Twinflower?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from June to July.
Where is Twinflower most often seen?
The most observations come from Washington, Oregon, Maine.