I have never tried to germinate the seed, as I have plenty occurring naturally in my yard. I did find a site that explained the process, however.
As I worked in my yard, I would take any bunchberry growing where I did not want it, and place it where I did. I found roots to be few and far between, so it wasn't easy to always get pieces with roots. Eventually, I got a really nice patch where I wanted it. Once I established it, it took off. But I have to say that it took a while to get it established...I think because it doesn't have much in the way of roots. I've been meaning to try a more concerted effort to study the propagation of it, but haven't gotten around to it since I have so much of it now.

Here is a link that might be useful: C. canadensis

according to that link, my plant should have survived: neutral clay soil part sun/shade. i planted last fall. it survived winter, but i didn't see it after mid-spring. it never flowered. it was just gone.

did i let it get too dry? we had very little spring rain this year. i am still hoping to see it again.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you...hopefully it was last year's leaf that you saw, and it browned up and the plant spent its energy underground, and will send leaves up next spring. If you didn't even see a dead leaf, though, it sounds like something carried it off.

I think this is a tough one to germinate for several reasons. The flesh over the seed has a germination inhibitor so it needs to be removed (probably disbursed by ants or other buggies that like to eat the covering in the wild). The seed coat is very hard so scarification would likely help. I'm pretty sure it has a double dormancy (seed coat or external dormancy as well as seed embryo dormancy). So probably warm strat followed by cold strat? I think it probably takes two seasons to germinate in the wild.

I had little luck growing these until I altered soil ph with iron sulfate. Acidic soil was the key for me in my conditions, going on 4 yrs now and increasing by teasing out root divisions. Haven't tried seed germination (other than squeezing the seeds out of their coats into the ground, the trillium method).

Good Luck!

"If you didn't even see a dead leaf, though, it sounds like something carried it off."--- that doesn't say much for me. even though it was in the front of the house, i get in my car and go! also, it was behind a columbine. can they be outcompeted by any chance?

i don't think i would have much luck altering the soil. it is bordered on all sides by concrete- new sidewalk and old slab foundation. not to mention the pH value already. my soil tester reads close to neutral, but according to my hydrangea, it leans more toward alkaline.

The Native Plant Network has some propagation info:

Here is a link that might be useful: Cornus canadensis propagation

I know it grows only on mountain tops in my state. Habitat would be upper elevations(above 2500') amongst blueberry/ oak/hickory/birch associates. I envision it snaking around the root flares of spruces, along with Epigaea and Lycopodium.
Strongly acidic, well drained soil on slopes. Forget it in warm soil temps or sustained nightime air temps above 65 degrees.
I have it growing in my garden, but it aint thriving. Linnaea borealis is a MUCH stronger grower.

Rx

I cheated - I bought some. It took a few years for it to get established and to finally start to bloom, but now it seems pretty happy and is rambling around in the shade garden. It's in improved alkaline clay soil, in an area that gets only a couple of hours of sun.

Northeastwisc, thanks for that informative link! I wish I could grow these little beauties here, but alas our summers would kill it quick. It grows in the mountains of northern Japan however.