Jeffersonia diphylla (Twinleaf)
Also known as: | |
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Genus: | Jeffersonia |
Family: | Berberidaceae (Barberry) |
Life cycle: | perennial |
Origin: | native |
Status: |
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Habitat: | part shade; rich woods |
Bloom season: | April - May |
Plant height: | 4 to 18 inches |
Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): | ![]() |
National distribution (click map to enlarge): | ![]() |
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Detailed Information
Flower:
A single flower 1 to 1½ inches (to ~4 cm) in diameter at the tip of a long, naked stem. Flowers are white with 8 petals, blunt to rounded at the tip, and 8 dull yellowish stamens surrounding a green ovary in the center. The 4 sepals surrounding the flower are oblong-elliptic, shorter than the petals and typically purple-tinged. Flowers only last about a day, the petals dropping off like rain right after pollination.
Leaves and stem:
Leaves are basal, in pairs at the tip of a naked stalk, the pair nearly round to kidney-shaped in outline, each leaflet a mirror image of the other, somewhat oval with a pointed or rounded tip and rounded base. Surfaces are hairless, edges smooth to shallowly lobed. During the bloom season, leaves may only be about an inch long, on stalks often shorter than the flowering stems. As fruit develops both flowering stems and leaf stalks elongate up to 17 inches (43 cm) and leaves can enlarge up to ~5 inches (to 13 cm) long. Stems are typically multiple from the base and may form large clumps.
Fruit: 
Fruit is a leathery capsule ¾ to 1½ inches (18 to 38 mm) long, splitting open along a seam around the upper half, the top resembling a lid. Inside are oblong seeds about ¼ inch (4 to 7 mm) long.
Notes:
Twinleaf reaches the northwest edge of its range in Minnesota and is only found in the deciduous forests of our southeastern counties, often on north-facing slopes where conditions tend to be cooler and moister. According to the DNR, much of its forest habitat has succumbed to agriculture and development, and it also faces additional threats from non-native invasive species. It was listed as a Special Concern species in 1996 and is also Special Concern in Wisconsin.
Twinleaf flowers look very similar to Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), which has numerous bright yellow stamens and distinctly different leaves that are larger and lobed in 3 to 9 parts. Twinleaf has performed very well in my own shade garden, gradually increasing to what are now fairly vigorous clumps. But the bloom season has been very short, with all flowers in a clump opening within a couple days of each other and the petals all gone a couple days after that. But it's glorious during those few days!
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More photos
Twinleaf plant
a vigorous clump post-flowering
petals dropped off 2 days after peak flowering
more flowers
Photos by K. Chayka taken in her garden. Photos by Peter M. Dziuk taken at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden in Minneapolis, in a private garden, and in Winona County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2010-04-24 10:32:02
While a species of Special Concern in Minnesota - we are in the extreme NW edge of its range, it's far more common in Wisconsin - this species is increasingly available at retail garden centers such as Linders (limited quantities & expensive) does well in rich soil shade gardens - very fleeting but wonderful in the spring.
on: 2015-04-29 12:36:58
Just spotted them this AM. have lived here many years. Was very excited to find them listed here.
on: 2015-04-30 16:12:34
Sandy, twinleaf is only found "in the wild" down in the southeast corner of the state so what you saw in Isanti county was more likely bloodroot. The flowers are similar, but the leaves set them apart.
on: 2017-05-12 10:51:04
I have one very healthy plant that was transplanted from a friend's natural woods nearby three years ago. This year I have one volunteer that is tiny and I am protecting in the hopes it takes hold. Question: can I split the larger established plant? I just LOVE this species!
on: 2018-05-04 21:35:14
Not sure but it seems to fit the description. Bloomed in the last two weeks.
on: 2019-05-12 10:06:43
I saw my first Twinleaf yesterday at the base of a tree on the hiking trail in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park in Rice County. It definitely had the split leaf. After IDing flowers for many years this is my first sighting of the Twinleaf. I used this site to ID it so Thank You!
on: 2021-04-19 15:26:54
We saw quite a few blooming Twinleaf in the coulees of the Dorer State Forest.
on: 2021-05-07 15:36:16
Just curious, what invasive species is involved? There is a couple of clumps of them at whitewater st park. But a beaver has moved in and taking down an awful lot of trees, I didn't mean the beaver being invasive! Just wondering what is. And do you suppose the person before me in comments,rant Richard Dorer pools , my husband and I spend a lot of time there, a lot. I'd live to see what Coulee she means?
on: 2021-05-07 16:14:11
Susan, the biggest invasive species threats in forested areas are earthworms, garlic mustard, buckthorn and honeysuckle.