Bunchberry Dogwood (Cornus canadensis)

Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
(Slow to produce seeds, needs stratification)

Seed Collection Time:

Late summer to early fall — typically August through September

Signs Seeds are Ready:

  • Showy white bracts fade in early summer and give way to bright red berries

  • Berries ripen when they become deep red and soft to the touch

  • Ripe berries detach easily and often drop if not harvested promptly

Note: Not all plants fruit every year — pollination requires cross-pollination between clones, so isolated plants often produce few or no seeds.

Seed Collection Steps:

  1. Harvest ripe red berries by hand into a paper bag or shallow container

  2. Mash berries gently and soak in water to separate seeds from pulp

  3. Viable seeds sink — discard floating debris

  4. Rinse clean and air-dry on a paper towel for a day or two

Germination Tips:

  • Seeds have deep double dormancy

  • Requires:

    1. Warm moist stratification (70°F) for 60–90 days, followed by

    2. Cold moist stratification (34–40°F) for 90–120 days

  • Plant in early spring after stratification or sow outdoors in fall for natural cycling

  • Germination may take 6–18 months — be patient!

Bonus Notes:

  • Bunchberry also spreads by creeping rhizomes — divisions are more reliable than seeds

  • Best grown in cool, acidic, moist forest soil in part to full shade