Skip to content
Log inStart trial

Bunchberry

Cornus Canadensis

Design with this plant

Overview

Cornus canadensis, or Bunchberry, is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial reaching 4 to 8 inches in height. It thrives in cool, moist, acidic soil, and prefers partial to full shade. This North American native features striking white flowers in late spring and red berries in summer, which attract birds. Its green foliage turns a vibrant red in fall, adding seasonal interest to shade gardens or naturalized woodland settings.

Sun Half, ShadeWater Low, MediumZones 2–6Type Ground cover, ShrubClimate Alpine
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — providing an enduring and ever-changing beauty; ground cover / shrub with white blooms, image 89

Culture

Sun
Half, Shade
Water
Low, Medium
USDA zones
2–6

Shape & size

Mature height
4–10 Inches
Mature width
6–12 Inches

Classification

Type
Ground cover, Shrub
Family
Cornaceae
Climate
Alpine

See full data, regional cultivation notes, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (200)

Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — showy white bracts - often mistaken for petals - that are 1 to 2 inches across, image 127
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — offering a year-round visual appeal with minimal maintenance
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — A native to northern temperate and boreal forests, it thrives under the dappled shade of woodland settings; ground, image 99
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — ground cover / shrub with white blooms
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — The Bunchberry, or Cornus canadensis, is an enchanting ground cover plant that belongs to the Cornaceae family, image 75
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — ground cover / shrub with white blooms; these blooms mature into striking clusters of bright red berries by late, image 114
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — This diminutive dynamo typically reaches a modest height of 4 to 8 inches; a native to northern temperate and, image 54
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — providing a feast for various bird species.<br><br>Bunchberry requires moist; verdant foliage.<br><br>The plant's, image 84
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — Cornus canadensis, or Bunchberry, is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial reaching 4 to 8 inches in height; its, image 139
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — white flowers in the garden; the Bunchberry, or Cornus canadensis, is an enchanting ground cover plant that, image 136
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — white flowers in the garden; the Bunchberry, or Cornus canadensis, is an enchanting ground cover plant that, image 113
Bunchberry (Cornus Canadensis) — showy white bracts - often mistaken for petals - that are 1 to 2 inches across, image 35
Cornus Canadensis
Cornus Canadensis
Cornus Canadensis
Cornus Canadensis
Cornus Canadensis
Cornus Canadensis
Cornus Canadensis
Cornus Canadensis
Cornus Canadensis
Cornus Canadensis
Cornus Canadensis
Cornus Canadensis
Photographs by 8 contributors

Related plants

American Yellowtwig Dogwood (Cornus Sericea 'Flaviramea') — notable for its vibrant yellow-green stems that add winter interest

Tree

American Yellowtwig Dogwood

Cornus Sericea 'Flaviramea'

FullUSDA 10–10
Arctic Fire® Red Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) — Proven Winners - Arctic Fire® Red - Red-Osier Dogwood - Cornus stolonifera white plant details

Arctic Fire® Red Red-Osier Dogwood

Cornus stolonifera

Full
Arctic Fire® Yellow Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) — The Cornus stolonifera Arctic Fire® Yellow is a deciduous dogwood with dark green foliage

Arctic Fire® Yellow Red-Osier Dogwood

Cornus stolonifera

Full
Arctic Sun® Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) — The Cornus sanguinea Arctic Sun® is a compact deciduous dogwood with green foliage

Shrub

Arctic Sun® Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea

FullUSDA 3–8
Aurora White Flowering Dogwood (Cornus X Aurora) — This hybrid typically reaches 20 to 25 feet in height and spreads 15 to 20 feet wide, offering a rounded form

Shrub

Aurora White Flowering Dogwood

Cornus X Aurora

FullUSDA 5–9
Bailey's Twisted Dogwood (Cornus Sericea 'Baileyi') — spiral branches that add winter interest

Shrub

Bailey's Twisted Dogwood

Cornus Sericea 'Baileyi'

FullUSDA 3–6