Western Cordilleran Bunchberry

Cornus unalaschkensis

Native to:
Aleutian Is., Canada, Russia, United States

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Cornaceae
Genus:
Cornus
Species:
Cornus unalaschkensis
USDA Symbol:
COUN

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Subshrub
Height:
20 cm
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul
Bloom Colors:
white, green
Ground Cover:
Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals
Fall Color:
red

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers shaded forest understories

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–120 days
Germination Time:
30–180 days
Notes:
Seeds have double dormancy requiring warm stratification followed by cold. Germination can be erratic.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI