Jeffersonia diphylla

Jeffersonia diphylla, commonly known as twinleaf, is a flowering plant in the Berberidaceae family. Twinleaf is a perennial herb that produces white blooms during the months of March through May. The star-like flowers of 8 petals bloom on leafless stalks above immature leaves of only 8 to 12 inches tall; mature plants are up to 3 feet tall. The pear-shaped fruit pod is dehiscent and pops open to dispense seed. Its common name of twinleaf is due to the formation of identical lobes of the blue-green leaf at the top of stems. Native to North America, it can be found growing under the canopy of trees in the eastern portion of Canada and in the United States, Wisconsin to New York, to North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Twinleaf prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soils in areas of full to part shade. It can be found in moist and extremely nutrient-rich forests, generally over rocks such as limestone. Twinleaf is a threatened species in North Carolina.