Bunchberry

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), also known as dwarf cornel or creeping dogwood, is a low herbaceous perennial in the dogwood family (Cornaceae). It carpets the moist understory of coniferous forests in the montane and subalpine zones of Banff National Park.

Identification: A whorl of 4–6 oval leaves at the top of a short stem; four showy white bracts (often mistaken for petals) surrounding a cluster of tiny green flowers in spring; bright red berries in a tight bunch in late summer and fall. The plant rarely exceeds 6 inches (15 cm) in height and spreads by rhizomes, forming dense mats in shady woods.

Habitat and diet: Prefers moist, shady forest; often under spruce, fir, or lodgepole pine. The berries are eaten by bears, birds, and small mammals; Indigenous peoples traditionally harvested them for food.

The resort’s Bunchberry run on the Front Side is named after this plant.