Linnaea borealis aka Twinflower

Linnaea borealis, or twinflower, is a small evergreen shrub. It belongs to the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. Its range spans cold and mountain regions of Eurasia into Alaska. Kew also records it in Uganda's Ruwenzori Mountains. Other records extend across Canada and parts of the United States. It is native to Britain and Ireland. It grows in woods, including pine woods, and beside shaded rocks.

This ground-hugging plant forms a low mat of slender stems. It trails across soil and rotting logs. Garden plants reach about 0.3 feet (0.1 metres) tall. They spread 1.6–3.3 feet (0.5–1 metre), sometimes farther. The woody base often lies beneath fallen leaves. Small leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stems. Each leaf is oval to nearly round and somewhat leathery. The upper surface is glossy dark green, with clear netted veins. The underside has a buff tint. A few shallow teeth mark the leaf's upper half.

Flowers appear in summer, in pairs above the leafy shoots. Each flower hangs down from a forked stalk. The stalks reach about 0.2–0.3 feet (0.05–0.1 metres) high. The small bells range from pale pink to white. They have a strong scent. Dry brown capsules follow the flowers and produce nutlets. Glandular hairs help these cling to the fur of passing animals. This gives the fruit a means of moving beyond the mat.

Grow twinflower in partial shade with acid soil rich in humus. It needs steady moisture, but the soil should drain well. The RHS lists both clay and loam as suitable. It rates the plant H6 for UK hardiness. Plants For A Future gives USDA zones 2–6. Twinflower suits woodland edges, rock gardens, and peat beds. Good conditions let the stems root and build dense ground cover. Poor conditions leave a thinner mat. The RHS gives two to five years to reach mature size. No routine pruning is needed. Plants usually have few pest or disease problems.

Propagation options include autumn seed sowing and early-summer softwood cuttings. Rooted runners can be potted from autumn through spring. Plants For A Future lists the leaves as edible. It gives little detail on their food use. That source reports no known hazards, rather than proven safety. It also records past medicinal uses for menstrual pain and pregnancy. Other recorded uses include poultices for sore limbs and headaches. These records describe traditional use, not evidence of safe or effective treatment.