Bunchberry, Creeping dogwood, Dwarf Cornel
Cornus canadensis

Family: Cornaceae

What it is like

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It is deciduous and low and spreading. It grows 10-20 cm tall. The rhizomes are creeping and slender. The leaves are in rings and are 25 mm long and oval or sword shaped. The leaves turn red in autumn. There are white bracts around the flower-heads. The flowers are silvery white. The fruit are small, bright red berries.

There are about 45 Cornus species. They have health benefits.

Where it is found

It is a cool temperate plant. It needs cool moist conditions. It can tolerate cold. It can grow in sun or shade. It can grow in sandy or clay soils. Moist acid soils are best but it will grow in limestone soils. It suits hardiness zones 2-8.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Arctic, Asia, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Mynmar, North America, Russia, Tasmania, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. They have little taste. They are dried and added to breakfast cereal. The fruit can be made into puddings, pies, jellies and sauces. The large stones need to be strained out of jelly and jam. Also other fruits can be added for flavour.

The fruit are especially eaten by children. They are edible but have little taste.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from washed seed. They can also be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

P'xwlht

Synonyms

Chamaepericlymenum canadense (Linnaeus) Ascherson & Graebner; Cornella canadensis (Linnaeus) Rydberg.;