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Cornus canadensis

Bunchberry

Plant Type:

BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS

Cornus canadensis (syn. Chamaepericlymenum canadensis) - Bunchberry Dogwood is a creeping subshrub for which I have very fond memories having run across it repeatedly when in Maine and especially hiking in the Adirondacks. Quatre-temps is best in cooler climes, maybe - more about this a little later. (For all of you of French descent no explanation necessary. For everyone else Quatre-temps, "Four times", refers to the flowering bracts which occur in fours cupped at the center of the whorl of green leaves in spring.) In northeastern Connecticut we are able to generally get Crackerberry (no, I'm not going there...) through 4-year stints but then if and when we experience a quite cold, dry winter with no snow blanket for protection the shallow rhizomes which live in the duff suffer from potential and repeated unfiltered freezes and thaws. Canadian Bunchberry (safer than Crackerberry) is, however, a beautiful meandering ground-covering plant, one that gives us northern zone envy, a reversal to be sure! However, with such wide distribution - with populations of Canadian Cornel even found in mountainous areas as far south as New Mexico - it strikes me that there are potentially plants of variable provenance that might be suitable for many gardeners in many locations. As such we're giving this remarkable spreader a zone determination of USDA 2 to 9. Spring flowers give way to striking red berries in a bunch replacing white spring bracts with late season treasure. Green leaves transform to red-bronze in the shorter, colder days of the circadian calendar. Acid, draining and friable soil is best. Established pot grown division from rhizome.


Please scroll down to Genus Overview for more information.


Height:

4-8 in

Colors:

White

Zone:

2 to 9
What is my hardiness zone?

Characteristics and Attributes for Cornus canadensis

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Four Seasons

Autumn Interest

  • Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads
  • Autumn Leaf Color

Nature Attraction

  • Songbirds
  • Honey Bees & Native Bees

Light

  • Morning Sun / Afternoon Shade
  • Shade Tolerant
  • Dappled Shade

Attributes

  • Foundation
  • Heath / Peat Garden
  • Rock Garden
  • Woodland
  • Border
  • Natural Garden
  • Evergreen
  • Wildlife Garden
  • Bank
  • Ground Cover

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Moderately Fast

Soil

  • Humus Laden
  • Draining
  • Moist
  • Acid

Origins

  • Circumpolar

Propagated By

  • Division

Genus Overview: Cornus

Cornus. The Dogwoods come in many sizes – low growing shrubs to rounded trees. They are indispensable in a garden with almost all species and cultivars sporting four seasons of interest. Many exhibit richly-colored winter wood, attractive flowers and pretty berries in blue or white. Most offer terrific fall foliage color. The cultivars that offer gorgeous winter bark are especially well-used as background to lower growing evergeens or as foreground shrubs set before conifers, their stem colors glowing in winter against a backdrop of green, black-green, yellow or blue. All that produce flowers and fruit are very fine choices for the wildlife enthusiast. The trees provide nesting spots. When shrubs are grouped together these also provide nesting opportunities for some species of sparrows and even catbirds among others. The trees and shrubs provide nectar for bees and many other pollinators when in flower. Birds relish the late season fruits. All prefer fertile soils that retain some moisture between rain events. All of our offerings are cutting grown.