Bloomipedia
Twinberry honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata)
Photo: Erik Schiff via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Twinberry honeysuckle

Lonicera involucrata

Twinberry honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata) is a shrub in the Caprifoliaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–July across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Twinberry honeysuckle is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–July.

14states where USDA records it
6Bloomipedia state lists include it
21,710U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Quick look

Lonicera involucrata, the bearberry honeysuckle, bracted honeysuckle, twinberry honeysuckle, Californian Honeysuckle, twin-berry, or black twinberry, is a species of honeysuckle native to northern and western North America.

  • It belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 14 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Montana. NatureServe
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 10 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 3,622 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #47 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,597 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #42 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,313 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #40 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,184 records)
Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WashingtonNativeApril–July3,622
OregonNativeApril–July3,597
ColoradoNativeJune–July3,313
WyomingNativefew records (37)657
UtahNativeMay–July642
MontanaNativefew records (38)526

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Colorado.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Montana.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: WI (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records twinberry honeysuckle in 14 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Washington counties with USDA records: Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Ferry, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, Yakima.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Archuleta, Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Las Animas, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Park, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit, Teller.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Twinberry honeysuckle a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -43 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
5.5 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-43 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
90
Annual precipitation range
14 to 32 inches
Minimum root depth
12 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring
Fruit or seed
Black · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for LOIN5. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 230 counties across 14 states; the most are in Colorado (37), California (33), Oregon (29).

Other Lonicera on Bloomipedia (7): Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, Pink honeysuckle, Coral honeysuckle, Orange honeysuckle, Morrow's honeysuckle, Utah honeysuckle.

More from the Caprifoliaceae family (18 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Wild teasel, Common snowberry, Twinflower, Cutleaf teasel, Northern bush honeysuckle, Sitka valerian, Common valerian, Shortspur seablush.

More Washington flowers

Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)

Common snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–August
Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)

Twinflower

Linnaea borealis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: June–August
Orange honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa)

Orange honeysuckle

Lonicera ciliosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–June

Sources