Twinberry, Bracted honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata var. ledebouri
Family: Caprifoliaceae
What it is like
A deciduous shrub. It is low and can be twining. It grows 1-3 m high and spreads 1-1.5 m wide. The leaves are 12 cm long and have fine hairs. The flowers are in pairs and have short tubes. They are 1.25 cm long. They can be red or yellow. The fruit is a deep purple berry. The fruit have large purple-black bracts around them. They are 0.5-1 cm across.
There are about 150 Lonicera species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate to subtropical plant. It grows in damp thickets. It grows near the treeline. It can tolerate a range of temperatures. It can tolerate temperatures down to -25°C. It is fairly wind hardy. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It tolerates air pollution and can near seasides. It can grow in soils with pH 4.5-7.5. It suits hardiness zones 4-10.
Countries/locations it is found in
Alaska, Australia, Canada, Central America, Mexico, North America, USA
How it is used for food
CAUTION: The fruit are dried and stored for later use.
Edible parts
Fruit