Cornus canadensis

Bunchberry

Bunchberry in Bloom
Photo © by Earl J.S. Rook

Flora, fauna, earth, and sky...
The natural history of the northwoods

Name:

• Cornus, from the Latin, cornu, "horn, antler"
• canadensis, from the Latin, "of Canada"
• Bunchberry, from the appearance of the tightly clustered fruits.
• Other common names include Bunchberry Dogwood, Dwarf Dogwood, Canadian Bunchberry, Dogwood Bunchberry
.

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom Plantae, the Plants
  • Division Magnoliophyta, the Angiosperms (flowering plants)
    • Class Magnoliopsida, the Dicotyledons
    • Subclass Rosidae, the Roses
      • Order Cornales, the Dogwoods
        • Family Cornaceae, the Dogwoods
          • Genus Cornus, the Dogwoods
• Taxonomic Serial Number: 27816
• Also known as Chamaepericlymenum canadensis, Cornella canadensis

Description:

• A low, deciduous, rhizomatous shrublet, only 2"- 8" tall.
• Flowers tiny white clusters surrounded by four large white bracts, giving the appearance of a single blossom.
• Fruit a coral red drupe.

Identification:

Distribution:

• Alaska to Newfoundland,
• Northern North America, south in mountains. Also Northeast Asia
• Southern limit of range may be due to its preference for cool, acidic soils and its inability to survive in summer soils warmer than 65º F.

Habitat:

• Shade; growth most vigorous in partial shade.
• Moist, well drained sites prefered
• Cool, acidic soil (pH 3.0 to 7.9)

Fire:

• Survive all but severe fires that remove the duff and heat the upper soil for an extended period and may survive hotter fires in moist sites such as depressions.

Associates:

• The Cornus-Linnaea synusia, which include Twinflower (Linnaea borealis), greenish flowered wintergreen (Pyrola virens), Dwarf Red Blackberry (Rubus pubescens), Starflower (Trientalis borealis), and Kidney Leaf Violet (Viola renifolia)
• Shrubs: Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata), Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)
• Herbs: Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), Blue Bead Lily (Clintonia borealis), Goldthread (Coptis groenlandica), Mocassin Flower (Cypripedium acaule), Sweet Scented Bedstraw (Galium triflorum), Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), Indian Cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana), Mountain Woodsorrel (Oxalis montana), Coltsfoot (Petasites palmatus), Sidebells Pyrola (Pyrola secunda), Starflower (Trientalis borealis), Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum)
• Mammals: Food for Moose
• Birds: Spruce Grouse, Veery, Philadelphia Vireo, and Warbling Vireo eat the fruit.

History:

Uses:

• Edible; jelly made from fruits.

Reproduction:

• Reproduces by seed and vegetatively by rhizomes
• Flowers July/August
• Self-sterile; dependent on pollinators such as bumblebees, solitary bees, beeflies, and syrphid flies. The flowers have one petal with an awnlike extension that initiates the explosive release of pollen.
• Seed dispersal by animal consumers
• Seeds require cold stratification to break dormancy; germinates over a 3-year period, with most germinating in the first two years. Light may be required for germination.
• Low fruit set, low germination and survival rates, and slow early growth limit reproduction by seed; most regeneration is by rhizome.
• Rhizomes develop woody growth rings; examples have been found which are over 15' long and 36 years old!

Propagation:

• By seed, following cold stratification.
• Division most successful method

Cultivation:

• Hardy to USDA Zone 3 (average minimum annual temperature -40ºF)
• Slender and shallow rhizomes vulnerable to soil disturbance.
• Prefers cool, acidic soils; cannot survive in summer soils warmer than 65º F.

Links:

• Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)

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