




Cornus canadensis
The Canadian bunchberry is a small plant with pretty white flowers that look like stars! It grows close to the ground and has shiny green leaves that turn red in the fall.
Habitat: Forests
The Canadian bunchberry is a small perennial plant with a whorl of 4-7 dark green leaves near the top of its stem. It features a cluster of tiny greenish-yellow flowers surrounded by four prominent, showy white bracts, resembling a single large flower. These develop into a tight cluster of bright red, edible berries in late summer.





Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Its bright red berries stay on the plant well into the fall, adding a splash of color!
Its tiny flowers are surrounded by four white 'petals' that are actually modified leaves!
Many Indigenous peoples traditionally ate bunchberries and used them for medicine.
This plant uses clever 'piston' traps to launch pollen onto visiting insects!
Canadian bunchberry has underground stems (rhizomes) that help it spread and form dense carpets, covering the forest floor.
Canadian bunchberry has four large, white 'petals' (bracts) that act like a giant advertisement to attract pollinators to its tiny true flowers.

Ursus americanus
Berries are a food source.

Turdus migratorius
Birds feed on the red berries.
Bombus impatiens
Relies on insects for pollination services.

Odocoileus virginianus
Deer browse on its leaves.
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always ask an adult before picking any berries or plants.
10-20 cm
15-30 cm
0.5-1 cm
Late spring to early summer
Yes
None
Perennial
Insect
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Ontario, CA
You might spot Painted Turtle and Common Watersnake.
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Ontario, CA
You might spot Moose, Brittlegills, and Canadian Bunchberry.
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Wisconsin, US
You might spot Partridgeberry, Bluebead Lily, and Cinnamon Fern.
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Québec, CA
You might spot Canada Jay, Bluebead Lily, and Hobblebush.
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Manitoba, CA
You might spot Canadian Bunchberry, Jack Pine, and Paper Birch.
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Québec, CA
You might spot White-Tailed Deer, Harbor Seal, and Common Eider.
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