Bunchberry

Bunchberry is the dogwood that forgot it was supposed to be a tree. This native groundcover grows just four to eight inches tall, spreading by rhizomes into a carpet of whorled leaves topped in spring by the same four-bracted white flower structure that makes its taller relatives famous. The flowers are tiny and greenish, the showy parts are the white bracts surrounding them. By late summer, tight clusters of bright red berries appear at the center of each leaf whorl, giving the plant its common name. Native from southern Greenland to Alaska and south through the Pacific Northwest, bunchberry is a true woodland species, at home in the cool, moist understory of conifer forests.

Bunchberry wants what the forest floor provides: shade, acidic soil, consistent moisture, and a mulch layer of decaying organic matter. In Western Washington, that translates to the north side of the house, under conifers, or in any woodland garden where you can maintain moisture through summer. It will not tolerate full sun, dry soil, or alkaline conditions. If you can match its preferences, it is one of the most beautiful native groundcovers available, the white bracts in spring, the red berries in fall, and the neat foliage through the growing season create a miniature dogwood display at ankle height. No significant disease or pest concerns are tracked. The challenge is establishment: bunchberry is slow to fill in and resents transplanting. Buy nursery-propagated plants and be patient.