Bunchberry (Dwarf Dogwood) -
cornus canadensis

Appearance

• Fruits are coral red, fleshy, sweet, pulpy berries
• Plants 5-25 centimeters tall
• 4-7 leaves on each stem
• leaves are 2-7 centimeters long
• flowers are small and greenish white

Habitat

• moist coniferous forests
• forest openings, bogs, valley bottoms
• meadows, sub alpine elevations

Growth Habit

• grows in late and early spring
• low, trailing rhizomatous perennial
• creeping sub- shrub

Natural History

• some natives make the berries into jelly
• food for moose, spruce grouse, veery, Philadelphia vireo, and warbling vireo
• the Makah eat the berries, but the Quinault declare they are poisonous
• the dogwood is the bunchberry's closest relative