Plant Details

Cornus canadensis

Creeping dogwood

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Common names

39 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
  • bunchberry[2]
  • Bunchberry dogwood[1][2]
  • Canada bunchberry[2]
+7 more namesShow fewer names
  • Canadian bunchberry[2]
  • Canadian dwarf cornel[2]
  • crackerberry[2]
  • Creeping dogwood[2]
  • dwarf cornel[2]
  • dwarf dogwood[2]
  • quatre-temps bunchberry[2]
Other languages (22)
Dutch
  • Canadese kornoelje
  • Dwergkornoelje
  • Kruipende kornoelje[2]
French
  • cornouiller du Canada[2]
  • cornouiller quatre-temps[2]
  • Quatre-temps[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Ainu
  • レハムㇱ[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Cree
  • pihew mînis[2]
Czech
  • dřín kanadský[2]
Danish
  • Canadisk hønsebær[2]
Downriver Halkomelem
  • kʷíʔkʷitʔəɬp[2]
Estonian
  • kanada kukits[2]
Finnish
  • kanadanruohokanukka[2]
German
  • Kanadischer Hartriegel[1][2]
Japanese
  • ゴゼンタチバナ[2]
Korean
  • 풀산딸나무[2]
Ojibwe
  • Ode'iminijiibik (Zhakaagomin, Zhaashaagomin, Zhaashaagominens)[2]
Polish
  • dereń kanadyjski[2]
Russian
  • Дёрен канадский[2]
  • Кизил канадский[2]
Slovak
  • drieň kanadský[2]
Swedish
  • Amerikanskt hönsbär[2]
Ukrainian
  • Дерен канадський[2]
Upriver Halkomelem
  • kwii-kwi’t-xulhp[2]
Yup Ik
  • tatangqurhnaq[2]
  • tsengqułektat[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Cornus canadensis L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Bunchberry dogwood (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 151664; taxon YGHD.
  • Kanadischer Hartriegel (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 151665; taxon YGHD.
[2] Cornus canadensis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Canadian bunchberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • bunchberry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • quatre-temps — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • kanadanruohokanukka — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • bunchberry dogwood — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • dwarf cornel — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • crackerberry — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • creeping dogwood — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • dwarf dogwood — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • tatangqurhnaq — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • tsengqułektat — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • Canadisk hønsebær — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • Кизил канадский — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • Дёрен канадский — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • Amerikanskt hönsbär — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • 草茱萸 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • quatre-temps bunchberry — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • Canadian dwarf cornel — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • Canada bunchberry — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • cornouiller du Canada — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • cornouiller quatre-temps — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • rougets — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • ゴゼンタチバナ — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • dřín kanadský — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • Kanadischer Hartriegel — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • Ode'iminijiibik (Zhakaagomin, Zhaashaagomin, Zhaashaagominens) — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • kanada kukits — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • レハムㇱ — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • 풀산딸나무 — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • pihew mînis — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • dereń kanadyjski — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • Kruipende kornoelje — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • 草茱萸 — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • drieň kanadský — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • Дерен канадський — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • kwii-kwi’t-xulhp — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.
  • kʷíʔkʷitʔəɬp — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 47192; Cornus canadensis.

General information

Scientific name: Cornus canadensis
Accepted name (Kew): Cornus canadensis L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Cornaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Cornus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Creeping dogwood
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.15–0.3 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.15–0.3 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Slow
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Creeping, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Pectin
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Pectin, Ground cover

Description

Fruit: raw or cooked. The fruit of the cornus is not very flavorful, but it is pleasant to eat. The fruit is quite dry and somewhat grainy, with a subtle sweet taste. It pairs well with breakfast cereals and can also be used to make jams, pies, puddings, and more. The fruit contains a lot of pectin, which makes it suitable to combine with fruits that have a lower pectin content, for example for making jam. It is said that pectin can protect the body from radiation. The fruits are approximately 6 mm in diameter and grow in small clusters on top of the plant.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 14963; name ID 47266; Cornus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 15061; name ID 47300; Cornus canadensis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Cornus canadensis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5380306, ID YGHD: Cornus canadensis L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Cornus canadensis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .