Description
Chamaepericlymenum canadense (syn. Cornus canadensis)
CT
Soil: Acidic, Rich, Well-drained
Moisture: Average to Moist
Light: Part Shade
Plant Height: 4 to 9 inches
Plant Width: 6 to 12 inches
Pests: Leaf spot, blights, and powdery mildew especially in wet springs
Landscape Value: Excellent ground cover for moist woodland gardens and shade gardens.
New this year! Shrubby, deciduous ground cover with leaves and flowers resembling those of the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) only smaller. Conspicuously-veined, dark green, glossy leaves located in whorls near stem tips. Foliage turns red-purple in the fall. Clusters of tiny, greenish flowers surrounded by four showy, petal-like, white bracts (modified leaves) bloom in late spring to midsummer. Flower clusters resemble single large flowers on short stalks above the leaves. Plants require cross pollination and have an appendage that ejects pollen when touched; pollen launches straight upwards and can lodge into a pollinating insect’s hairs. In late summer, terminal clusters of bright red fruits appear and persist until late fall. Spreads by creeping rhizomes (underground stems) to form a carpet-like mat. Best planted in the shade of trees and shrubs. Mulching with pine needles conserves soil moisture and reduces stress. Flowers attract bees and flies; fruits attract songbirds, game birds, small mammals, and other wildlife. Tolerates a wide range of soil types and nutrient regimes. Does not tolerate drought, heat stress, or poorly drained soils, as these conditions weaken plants making them vulnerable to diseases. Fruits are edible.
1-gallon pot
Photo credits:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (photo by RW Smith)
Native Plant Trust (photo by Glen Mittelhauser)
North Carolina State Extension (photo by Tatters)
