Bunchberry
(Cornus canadensis)

Other common names: Dwarf Cornel
French names: Cornouiller du Canada
Family: Dogwood Family (Cornaceae)
Distinctive features: Sub-Shrub, ;Very low plants, typical dogwood leaves, bright white flowers, red berries.
Flowers: Summer;  White;  4 parts (petals);  White, tiny cluster, surrounded by white petal-like bracts.
Leaves: Opposite/Whorled;  Simple;  Entire;  Whorled on one tier. Occasionally on two tiers. Typical Dogwood style leaves.
Height: very short, up to about 6" max.
Habitat: Common in woods everywhere. Also in bogs
Edible: The berries are edible, but hardly worth it due to the single hard seed at the center to which the edible part clings tenaciously.
Books: Newcombe's Wildflower Guide: 152    Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 4    ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 242   
Native/Non-native: Native
Status: Very common
For more information visit: Ontario Trees and Shrubs

A "grove" of Bunchberry in the forest, in bloom.

Closer view of some flowers.

Flowers done, fruits forming. The white "petals" are actually bracts surrounding a cluster of tiny individual flowers.

Fruit forming in July.

Alsmot-ripe berries.

Ripe fruits in July. These berries are edible. However, they are hardly worth the effort, as they contain a very large and very hard single seed. The fruit pulp sticks tenaciously to this seed, and it's very difficult to separate.

Bunchberry make a great ground cover, if you are into native plant gardening and naturalizing your property.

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