Ideal for use as general ground cover or for accent in combination with ericaceous plants like rhododendron, blueberry, and huckleberry, bunchberry is also a superb companion to hostas, dogwood and hemlocks – the main thing is that it has its roots in a cool, organically rich, moisture retentive soil of acidic pH. Once that has been accomplished, get ready to appreciate one of our finest native ground covers. Quick to emerge in spring, its deciduous prominently veined foliage is first lime green before changing to dark glossy green. By midspring the foliage is topped by tiny yellow flowers made showy by their large white bracts. Later, toward the end of summer, clusters of prominent bright red fruit mature, and finally, during fall, the foliage turns deep reddish purple before it goes to sleep for the winter.