Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush) is a deciduous shrub that grows to 9.8 ft. Buttonbush blooms in the summer with white globe-like flowers that are very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Seeds of Cephalanthus occidentalis ripen in the fall. If the surface of the seed clusters is relatively uniform, the seed is likely to be viable. If the surface is irregular, seed viability will be poor. Buttonbush naturally occurs from California to Florida and from Minnesota to Maine. Cephalanthus occidentalis occurs in full sun to partial shade and saturated to inundated soils of swamps, bogs, streambanks, and lake edges. Buttonbush is a great addition to wetland, wet meadow, and riparian seed mixes. Cuttings of Cephalanthus occidentalis are used for stabilizing streambanks. Cephalanthus occidentalis is a member of the madder (Rubiaceae) family. The genus name is derived from the Greek words for head and flower.