SafePlants

Cornus canadensis: The Charming Bunchberry

Cornus canadensis, commonly known as Canadian dwarf cornel, Canadian bunchberry, or creeping dogwood, is a delightful flowering plant admired for its ground cover capabilities and miniature dogwood-like appearance.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant produces berries, which may be attractive to pets.

Considerations for Children

• The plant produces berries, which may be attractive to children.

Scientific Classification and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cornus canadensis
• Common Names: Canadian dwarf cornel, Canadian bunchberry, quatre-temps, crackerberry, creeping dogwood, dwarf dogwood, pigeonberry, squirrelberry, low cornel, ground dogwood
• Synonym: Chamaepericlymenum canadense
• Family: Cornaceae (Dogwood Family)
• Genus: Cornus
• Species: canadensis
• Author Citation: Cornus canadensis L.

Distribution and Habitat

• Bunchberry is a North American native plant.
• It thrives in moist woodland environments, particularly under a canopy of trees or in shady areas.
• It is hardy to zone (UK) 2 and USDA Zones 2-9.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Bunchberry is a low-growing perennial, typically reaching heights of 2 to 10 inches (5-25 cm), generally forming a carpet-like groundcover.
• It spreads by rhizomes that creep just under the surface.
• Each stem typically features one or two whorls of leaves at the top.
• The leaves are oval, pointed, and slightly ridged.
• It is a deciduous to evergreen, perennial, herbaceous plant.
• The plant has erect flowering stems and entire leaves with only a few main veins.
• Flowers appear in late spring and feature four large, white bracts that resemble petals.
• The flowers are followed by red berries.

Quirky Facts

• The flowers of Cornus canadensis have a remarkably fast opening mechanism for pollen dispersal, using stored elastic energy to catapult pollen almost instantaneously.
• The white "petals" of the bunchberry flower are actually bracts. The real flowers are inconspicuous and attract insects due to the false corolla created by these bracts.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The Canadian bunchberry's false corolla attracts insects to the real flowers.

Historical or Traditional Uses

• Dogwoods were valued for their healing properties, including bunchberry for cold and colic remedies.