Beaked Hazelnut vs Bunchberry - TreeTime.ca

Beaked Hazelnut vs Bunchberry

Cornus canadensis

Corylus cornuta

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Bunchberry
Beaked Hazelnut

The Bunchberry, or Quatre-Temps as it is commonly known in Quebec, is an excellent ornamental plant to have in your garden. With star-shaped white flowers in spring and clusters of bright red berries in the fall, this is one of the most refined and hardy groundcovers available. The foliage has ornamental value, with leaves going from a deep green in the spring and summer to a beautiful brick-red in the fall.

Bunchberry is a spreading evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. This plant is not well suited for urban areas close to streetsides, as it is quite intolerant to pollution. It is Canada’s national flower.

According to a poll done by the Master Gardeners of Ontario, it is one of the most recognizable Canadian flowers.

Its flowers grow with elastic petals and "fire" its pollen with the force of 2000-3000 times the force of gravity.

Beaked Hazelnut is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub native to North America.

It features smooth, grey bark and edible nuts. Beaked Hazelnut prefers a rich sandy-clay loam but will grow on poorer sites, and can be used as an understory shrub.

Note: You want more than one hazelnut to improve yields.

Bunchberry Quick Facts

Beaked Hazelnut Quick Facts

Zone: 1b
Zone: 2a
Height: 0.2 m (0.6 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: low


Fall colour: brick red
Flowers: white
Berries: small, red
Nuts: small, wildlife attracting
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: August/September
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: beaked hazel