Bunchberry Dogwood (Cornus canadensis)

Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
(Sensitive roots, slow grower, but doable with care)

Best Time to Divide:

• Early spring, just as new growth appears

• Late summer to early fall, after fruiting and before dormancy

❄️ Avoid disturbing during peak summer heat or winter dormancy.

Signs It’s Ready for Division:

• Groundcover patch has spread into a dense mat

• You want to establish it in a new area or rejuvenate the planting

• New shoots are forming from horizontal underground stems (rhizomes)

Steps for Rhizome Division:

1. Gently loosen soil around the outer edges of a healthy colony

2. Use a trowel or garden fork to lift a small section of rhizome (4–6 inches wide)

3. Each division should include:

   • A piece of rhizome with fine roots

   • At least one leaf cluster or visible bud

4. Trim away any broken or mushy roots

5. Replant promptly in cool, shaded soil — same depth as before

6. Water thoroughly and mulch with pine needles or leaf litter

Aftercare Tips:

• Keep soil consistently moist (but not soggy) during establishment

• Avoid fertilizer — prefers low-nutrient, acidic forest soils

• Growth is slow the first year, but spreading should resume the next spring

• Excellent underplanting for birch, pine, and hemlock groves

Bonus Notes:

• Bunchberry prefers cool climates and will decline in hot, dry conditions

• If possible, transplant on a cloudy day or after rainfall for best success

• Rhizome division is often more reliable than seed propagation due to slow and irregular germination