Cornus canadensis is a species of flowering plant in the dogwood family Cornaceae, native to eastern Asia and North America.^[2] Common names include Canadian dwarf cornel, Canadian bunchberry, quatre-temps, crackerberry, and creeping dogwood.^[3][4] Unlike its relatives, which are for the most part substantial trees and shrubs, C. canadensis is a creeping, rhizomatous perennial growing to about 20 centimetres (8 inches) tall.

Quick Facts Cornus canadensis, Conservation status ...

Cornus canadensis
Growing at Elfin Lakes, British Columbia
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Cornales
Family:	Cornaceae
Genus:	Cornus
Subgenus:	Cornus subg. Arctocrania
Species:	C. canadensis
Binomial name
Cornus canadensis L.

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Cornus canadensis is a slow-growing herbaceous perennial growing 10–20 centimetres (4–8 inches) tall, generally forming a carpet-like mat. The above-ground shoots rise from slender creeping rhizomes that are placed 2.5–7.5 cm (1–3 in) deep in the soil, and form clonal colonies under trees. The vertically produced above-ground stems are slender and unbranched. Produced near the terminal node, the leaves are shiny dark green and arranged oppositely on the stem, clustered with six leaves that often seem to be in a whorl because the internodes are compressed. The leaves consist of two types: two larger and four smaller leaves; the smaller ones develop from the axillary buds of the larger leaves. The leaves have petioles 2 to 3 millimetres (3⁄32 to 1⁄8 in) in length and leaf blades that are obovate. The blades have entire margins and are 3.5 to 4.8 cm (1+1⁄2 to 2 in) long and 1.5 to 2.5 cm (1⁄2 to 1 in) wide, with 2–3 veins, cuneate shaped bases and abruptly acuminate apexes. In autumn, the leaves have red-tinted veins and turn completely red.

While distinctive as a species itself, the generic placement of these plants has differed in various botanical treatments. When the genus Cornus is taken broadly, as done here, this species is Cornus canadensis, and is included in the subgenus Arctocrania.^[11] However, if Cornus is treated in a narrower sense, excluding this species, it can instead be classified as Chamaepericlymenum canadense or as Cornella canadensis.^[12][13]

Where C. canadensis, a forest species, and Cornus suecica, a bog species, grow near each other in their overlapping ranges in Alaska, Labrador, and Greenland, they can hybridize by cross-pollination, producing plants with intermediate characteristics.^[14][15]

Its native distribution includes Japan, North Korea, northeastern China (Jilin Province), the Russian Far East, the northern United States, Colorado, New Mexico, Canada and Greenland.^[3]

Cornus canadensis is a mesophytic species that needs cool, moist soils. It inhabits montane and boreal coniferous forests, where it is found growing along the margins of moist woods, on old tree stumps, in mossy areas, and among other open and moist habitats.^[16][17]

Birds are the main dispersal agents of the seeds, feeding on the fruit during their fall migration. In Alaska, bunchberry is an important forage plant for mule deer, black-tailed deer and moose, which eat it throughout the growing season.^[18]

It is used as ornamental groundcover in gardens. It prefers moist acidic soil.^[19] The wildflower author Claude A. Barr was of the opinion that the crimson berries are even more attractive than the flowers.^[20]

The fruits are edible raw but have little flavor.^[10][4] The pulp does not easily separate from the seeds. The berries can be cooked, strained, and combined with other fruits or used for pudding.^[21]

Claire Waight Keller included the plant to represent Canada in Meghan Markle's wedding veil, which included the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country.^[22]