Twining Screwstem: A Lesser-Known Native Climber Worth Knowing
If you’re on the hunt for native climbing plants that most gardeners have never heard of, let me introduce you to the twining screwstem (Bartonia paniculata iodandra). This annual climber might not be the showstopper of your garden, but it represents an interesting piece of North America’s native plant puzzle that’s worth understanding, even if you never actually grow it.
What Exactly Is Twining Screwstem?
Twining screwstem is a native annual plant that belongs to the gentian family. As its common name suggests, this plant has a twining, climbing growth habit with relatively long stems that can scramble up and through other vegetation. The stems can be either woody or herbaceous, giving the plant a somewhat variable appearance depending on growing conditions.
Like many plants in the botanical world, this species has quite a collection of scientific synonyms – evidence of the taxonomic shuffling that happens as botanists better understand plant relationships. You might encounter it referenced under names like Bartonia iodandra or various varieties of Bartonia paniculata.
Where Does It Call Home?
This native climber has a fairly broad but specific range across northeastern North America. You’ll find twining screwstem growing naturally in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Newfoundland. It’s considered native to Canada, the lower 48 states, and even St. Pierre and Miquelon.
The Garden Reality Check
Here’s where I need to be completely honest with you: twining screwstem isn’t exactly what you’d call a garden center darling. This is one of those native plants that exists more in the realm of botanical curiosity than practical landscaping. Information about its specific growing requirements, aesthetic appeal, and garden performance is surprisingly scarce, which tells us something important about its role (or lack thereof) in cultivation.
Should You Try Growing It?
The short answer is: probably not, unless you’re a serious native plant collector or botanist. Here’s why:
- Limited availability – you’re unlikely to find this plant at your local nursery
- Unknown garden performance – without clear cultivation information, you’d be experimenting
- Annual nature – even if successful, you’d need to replant each year
- Better alternatives exist – there are many well-documented native climbers available
Native Alternatives to Consider
If you’re interested in native climbing plants for your landscape, consider these better-documented options instead:
- Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) – groundcover native with interesting flowers
- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) – vigorous native vine with great fall color
- American groundnut (Apios americana) – native legume with fragrant flowers
- Wild hops (Humulus lupulus var. americanus) – fast-growing native with interesting seed heads
The Bottom Line
Twining screwstem represents one of those fascinating but frustrating aspects of native plant gardening – there are hundreds of native species out there, but not all of them translate well to garden settings or have the cultivation information we need to grow them successfully. While it’s important to celebrate and preserve our native plant diversity, sometimes the most practical approach is to focus on the native plants we can actually grow well and that provide known benefits to both gardeners and wildlife.
If you’re passionate about rare or unusual native plants, your energy might be better spent seeking out locally native plants that are well-suited to cultivation and supporting nurseries that specialize in propagating native species responsibly. That way, you’re still supporting native plant diversity while working with species that have a better chance of thriving in your garden.
