Practical
Plants

Cornus x unalaschkensis

Bunchberry

a perennial member of the Cornus genus in the family Cornaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Cornaceae
Genus
Cornus
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.15 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Bees, Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[5]. The fruit can be dried for later use[5]. A small berry about 6mm in diameter[K]. The fruit is rich in pectin.

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Pectin

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The following use is for the closely related C. suecica, but it almost certainly also applies to this plant[K]:- The fruit is rich in pectin[3]. A good ground-cover plant, succeeding under trees and shrubs[6].

Product or use
Pectin

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Northern N. America - Alaska, Newfoundland.
Habitat
Not known
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in an outdoors seedbed if there is sufficient seed[7][1]. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh since this contains germination inhibitors[7][2]. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3 - 4 months and sown as early as possible in the year[2]. Scarification may also help as may a period of warm stratification before the cold stratification[7][2]. Germination, especially of stored seed, can be very slow, taking 18 months or more[2]. Prick out the seedlings of cold-frame sown seeds into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow the plants on for their first winter in a greenhouse, planting out in the spring after the last expected frosts. This species is a hybrid and so might not breed true from seed. Division in spring. This plant can be a bit temperamental when it is being divided. We have found it best to tease out small divisions from the sides of the clump, to avoid the need to disturb the main clump by digging it up. Try to ensure that each division has already produced some roots. Pot them up in light shade in a greenhouse and make sure that they are not allowed to become dry. Once they are rooting and growing away well, which might take 12 months, they can be planted out into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a moist peaty acid sandy soil[6]. This is a naturally occurring hybrid, C. canadensis x C. suecica, and is intermediate in characteristics between the parents[4].

References

  1. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩

  2. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  5. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2

  7. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

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