Twinberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata) is an attractive and long-lived deciduous shrub with glossy oval leaves that give it a shiny appearance. It grows small and insignificant flowers that are encased in two leafy bracts. The bracts turn deeper red as the season progresses until the flowers give way to purple or black plump berries. These berries are very bitter and not used for human consumption, but are loved by mammals, game birds, and song birds. Twinberry Honeysuckle is a beautiful ornamental in garden beds and borders, woodland gardens, and shade gardens, hedges, or privacy screens. It is also used to control erosion of banks near river and streams. Twinberry Honeysuckle is tolerant of urban pollution. 
Photo Credit: Ryan Hodnett