Maritime Arboretum Seed Bunchberry

Cornus canadensis

Bunchberry is a low-growing native North American woodland perennial that forms an attractive spreading ground cover. It features whorls of green foliage, showy white flower-like bracts in late spring and bright red berries in late summer. It is an excellent choice for shaded gardens, woodland plantings, and naturalized areas.

Approximate Maximum Height: 0.2 m
Zone(s): Zone 0a-8a
About the Seeds: Clean Seed

Lighting: Partial shade to full shade. Bunchberry naturally grows on cool forest floors and performs best in shaded locations. It can tolerate some sunlight in cooler, moist conditions but should be protected from hot, intense afternoon sun.

Germination: Bunchberry seeds have physiological dormancy and require cold, moist stratification. For reliable germination, a period of approximately 90–150 days of cold stratification is recommended. Some propagation methods use a warm stratification period followed by cold stratification. After treatment, sow the seeds very shallowly or on the soil surface and provide warm, alternating temperatures of approximately 20-25°C during germination. Germination can be slow and irregular.

Watering: Keep the growing medium consistently moist but not waterlogged during stratification and germination. Once seedlings emerge, maintain even moisture and do not allow them to dry out. Bunchberry prefers cool, moist, humus-rich soil and is sensitive to drought, particularly while becoming established.