Plant of the Week: Cornus canadensis

Plant of the Week! One of the smallest Dogwoods, Cornus canadensis, Bunchberry, is a rhizomatous groundcover found in deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests in the northern U.S. and Canada. It is a circumpolar species, meaning it inhabits a pole, in this case the northern pole, and thus can be found in Asia as well. A beautiful species for shade, it has glossy leaves with deep veins, and a cluster of small flowers surrounded by four large white bracts. Fruits ripen to dark red and last into fall if not eaten by birds. This plant prefers shade and acid soil; the latter is a challenge for gardeners here in Southeastern Wisconsin.