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Cornus canadensis
  • Creeping Dogwood

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

Cornus-canadensis2.JPG
Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    Plants which grow close to or at soil level, not necessary providing a ground cover function.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 2
    Zone 2
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Cornus canadensis has 2 edible uses listed
Cornus canadensis has 1 material uses listed
Cornus canadensis has 5 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - raw or cooked[1][2]. Pleasant but without much flavour[3][4][5]. The fruits are rather dry a bit gummy and rather mealy but they have a pleasant slightly sweet flavour, though they are not the type of fruit I would like to eat raw in quantity[K]. They can be added to breakfast cereals or used for making jams, pies, puddings etc[6]. An excellent ingredient for steamed plum puddings[6]. High in pectin[7], so it can be used with pectin-low fruits when making jam[K]. Pectin is said to protect the body against radiation[8]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[9] and is borne in small clusters on top of the plants[K].

Fruit

Unknown use

Unknown part

Pectin

Material uses

The fruit is rich in pectin[7]. A good dense ground cover plant, growing well in light woodland[10][11]. It takes a little while to settle down and needs weeding for the first few years[12] but becomes rampant when established and can then spread 60 - 90cm per year[11].

Unknown part

Pectin

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves and stems are analgesic, cathartic and febrifuge[13]. A tea has been used in the treatment of aches and pains, kidney and lung ailments, coughs, fevers etc[14]. A strong decoction has been used as an eye wash[14][13].

The fruits are rich in pectin which is a capillary tonic, antioedemic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and hypotensive[15]. Pectin also inhibits carcinogenesis and protects against radiation[15].

A tea made from the roots has been used to treat infant colic[14]. The mashed roots have been strained through a clean cloth and the liquid used as an eyewash for sore eyes and to remove foreign objects from the eyes[13].

Unknown part

Analgesic
Cathartic
Febrifuge
Kidney
Ophthalmic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in an outdoors seedbed if there is sufficient seed[16][17]. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh since this contains germination inhibitors[16][18]. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3 - 4 months and sown as early as possible in the year[18]. Scarification may also help as may a period of warm stratification before the cold stratification[16][18]. Germination, especially of stored seed, can be very slow, taking 18 months or more[18]. 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. 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.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Cornus canadensis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in any soil of good or moderate fertility[1]. Easily grown in a peaty soil in shade or partial shade[19]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Grows best in sandy soils[11]. Prefers a damp soil[1]. Not suitable for alkaline soils[10][20]. A very ornamental plant[1], it grows well with heathers[19].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Cornus canadensis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Cornus canadensis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Cornus canadensis
Genus
Cornus
Family
Cornaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Medicinal uses
[13][14][15]
Material uses & Functions
[7][10][11][12]
Botanic
[21][9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Fruit (Unknown use)
  • Unknown part (Pectin)
Material uses
  • Unknown part (Pectin)
Medicinal uses
  • Unknown part (Analgesic)
  • Unknown part (Cathartic)
  • Unknown part (Febrifuge)
  • Unknown part (Kidney)
  • Unknown part (Ophthalmic)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
2
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Soil surface
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    vigorous
    Mature Size
    0.25 x 1 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences (1978-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health (1973-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    8. ? 8.08.1 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 (1993-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.2 Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. ISBN 0-900629-78-9 (1980-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.111.211.3 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.1 Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. ISBN 0-304-31089-1 (1989-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.113.213.3 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.114.214.3 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.115.2 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.116.2 McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-00-00)
    17. ? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
    18. ? 18.018.118.218.3 Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. (1990-00-00)
    19. ? 19.019.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)
    20. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
    21. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)


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