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Canadian bunchberry

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

Appearance

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.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCornalesFamilyCornaceaeGenusCornus
Canadian bunchberry
deciduous trait badgeflowering trait badgecluster_flower trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badge
Canadian bunchberry

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

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!

Special abilities

Ability

Clonal Colonizer

Canadian bunchberry has underground stems (rhizomes) that help it spread and form dense carpets, covering the forest floor.

Ability

False Flower Power

Canadian bunchberry has four large, white 'petals' (bracts) that act like a giant advertisement to attract pollinators to its tiny true flowers.

Measurements & details

Height
10-20 cm
Spread
15-30 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to early summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before picking any berries or plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Canadian bunchberry?

10-20 cm

How wide does Canadian bunchberry spread?

15-30 cm

How big are the flowers on Canadian bunchberry?

0.5-1 cm

When does Canadian bunchberry bloom?

Late spring to early summer

Is Canadian bunchberry edible?

Yes

Is Canadian bunchberry toxic?

None

What is Canadian bunchberry's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Canadian bunchberry pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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