Cornus Canadensis – Creeping Dogwood

Creeping dogwood (Cornus canadensis) is a slow-growing creeping perennial vine native to a large swath of the northern hemisphere including parts of both North America and Asia. It does not grow very tall (10-20 cm) and spreads out through the rhizomes forming a mat. Thus, as a “vine” it is not very exciting and not always defined as such, but it is happy in the shade and will make a ground cover with edible berries. That said, the seeds are hard and crunchy and not for everyone, but from what I read they have a good flavor. This plant is also host to 19 different caterpillar species and the fruit is eaten by wildlife who then spread the seeds.

Map Source:
USDA Plants Profile

Photo Credit:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33490869