Acidic ph is a major consideration with these.

"Southern limit of range may be due to its preference for cool, acidic soils and its inability to survive in summer soils warmer than 65ú F."

Look at its distribution range (try USDA resources site) -- you're just too far South, I think, even if your soil is acidic enough. Its range ends in Northern Virginia in the mountains, nothing farther south (leaving aside the Western mountains). And it's endangered in its southern range (MD, OH, etc.) You can find the above quote at the link below.

I don't feel sorry for you, though, since you're in the wildflower epicenter of North America. Guess we Northerners get to keep something for ourselves.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cornus canadensis information

You could probably learn all about it here:

Temperature Relations of the Bunchberry, Cornus Canadensis L. Edgar T. Wherry, Ecology, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Oct., 1934), pp. 440-443.

Available for money at www.jstor.org .

Folks at forestfarms sell it, but told me it absolutely won't grow here in NC.

Now, there's an honest salesman, Brenda. I'm pretty sure the problem is that they just can't take any warmth. I'm sorry I discovered this because I've got a few seeds of C. canadensis I'm trying to germinate, and I bet I don't have cool enough ground even in upstate New York to give them a really good chance to survive the summer once I put them out. Anyway, I've sown the seed in flats, so we'll see how it works.

As I stated in my oringinal help message, my location is about 3000 feet elavation on the north side of the mountain. Air temp is seldom in the mid 70's. With about 20% sun at any one time, I'm almost sure that soil temp. would ever get near 70. The fluff on the ground is several inches thick...ferns, moss, other natives all over the place. Cornus canadensis is sold in the area garden centers and is growing in some gardens. I'll keep on trying. Thanks

Check the ph of your site NC Wildflower.

David, there is hope for you. I grow it here in zone 7 on Long Island where it is native but extirpated in the wild.

I would think ncwildflower's place would be acid enough -- I gather the mountains there are acidic usually, just as here, although perhaps s/he has a local alkaline spot (not very likely, I would guess). I wonder about that "fluff on the ground" in nc -- some of my northern species are particular about not being covered. Where I've most often seen them growing has been pretty barren, in Maine along the rockbound coast amid pine needles, actually. I guess I'd check with local people who are growing them, then, to see what they're doing differently.

They thrive in the wild in forests in central MA, as well as my own garden. Both are acidic...I advise you to check your pH!

I can't grow it either and I 'am' in a more northerly climate. I'm in southern Ontario but the previous postings reveal why. Our soil is basic AND warm, not acid and cool...hmmmm...guess I too will have to try for something else. ;o/

Barb

I did read recently, by the way, that it's important not to let C. canadensis be covered by leaves over the winter.

We have about a thousand bunchberries growing in our garden...our non-acidic soil. Cornus canadensis grows across the expanse of Canada in many soil conditions. They blanket the ground in the acidic soils of Nova Scotia across the forests to the base soils of the Rocky Mountains here in Alberta. The key is cold winters and not too much competition from surrounding ground covers. They are happy in shade or a couple hours of direct sunlight a day. They won't, however, flower if not getting some direct sun...but when in shade will spread quicker via rhizomes.

We have bunchberries growing in a woodland bed with ladyslippers, wood lilies, twin berries and other native plants to our area.