Cornus (canadensis)

jtrindle USDA NRCS - Corvallis Plant Materials Center 3415 NE Granger Ave Corvallis, Oregon 58413 (541)757-4812 http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/orpmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Cornaceae
Family Common Name:	Dogwood
Scientific Name:	Cornus canadensis L.
Common Name:	bunchberry dogwood
Species Code:	COCA13
Ecotype:	Our collection from Mount Rainier National Park at lower elevations - about 1,900 ft elevation along highway 123; growing in understory with Acer Circinatum; ferns.
General Distribution:	Across Northern US in moist woods - Alaska, rocky mountain states south to New Mexico, also occurs in Greenland, East Asia
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	1-year plugs
Time To Grow:	1 Years
Target Specifications:	Healthy foliage and crown with roots free of rot, insect damage
Propagule Collection:	ripe berries collected from native stands in August. Often occurring in large patches; the low-growing plants with their fruit are easily identified and collected. Berries were not present in dry, hot years.
Propagule Processing:	Berries "pulsed" in blender with water using dulled blender blades; pulp strained out and seeds dried at room temperature on paper toweling. Remaining pulp gently rubbed and blown off dried seed. Seed weights in our collection ranged from 69,000 to 77,000 / lb.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seeds require a period of warm - moist stratification for 45 days; followed by cold-moist stratification for 140 days.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Stratified seed sown into Ray-Leach 10" "cone-tainers" filled with Fisons' Sunshine # 1 soilless potting mix amended with low rates of 3-month slow-release Osmocote fertilizer and Micromax micronutrients; then covered with a 1/2" layer of native "duff" - compost / leaf litter gathered from around the plants in their native stands.
Establishment Phase:	Seedlings started in a moderately cool poly greenhouse in spring under shadecloth; soil profile kept moist during germination / establishment.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 months
Active Growth Phase:	Established cones moved to a shadehouse outdoors in May and maintained over summer with frequent watering and low rates of Peters' triple-20 applied monthly. Established plants can be protected from fungal root-rot with "Subdue" or other fungicides at label rates. Roots should be carefully inspected for root-damaging insects. At Corvallis, Black-vine root weevils were a frequent pest and were controlled using soil drenches of Bio-Safe or Exhibit parasitic nematodes applied at label rates.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	May through July
Hardening Phase:	Fertilizer discontinued in July and irrigation intervals gradually lengthened. Plants remained in Lathhouse to avoid leaf-burn from full-sun exposure.
Length of Hardening Phase:	August - September
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Plants can be fall-shipped in their containers for outplanting; well-watered before shipping and kept cool during transport.
Length of Storage:	Not recommended to overwinter: see comments
Other Comments:	Once established, these should be tenacious little ground-cover plants: in the collection area new shoots were found forcing their way up through asphalt pavement. Rose et al reported that seeds can be stored in sealed containers at 3 to 5 C for up to 4 years; and that even with the proper stratification seed can take up to 3 years to fully germinate.
References:	Corvallis Plant Materials Center Technical Report: Plants for Woodland and Rangeland Reclamation and Erosion Control 1980 - 1997 (includes Annual Reports to Mount Rainier National Park from 1990 - 1996 Link, Ellen, ed. 1993 Native Plant Propagation Techniques for National Parks Interim Guide; Compiled by Rose Lake Plant Materials Center 7472 Stoll Road East Lansing, MI 48823 Kruckeberg, Aurthur R. 1982. Gardening With Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest: An Illustrated Guide. Seattle: Univ. of Washington Press. Rose, Robin, C.E.C. Chachulski and D. Haase. Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants 1998 Or. State U. Press, Corvallis, Oregon USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Citation:

Flessner, Theresa R; Trindle, Joan D.C.. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Cornus canadensis L. plants 1-year plugs; USDA NRCS - Corvallis Plant Materials Center Corvallis, Oregon. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.