Cephalanthus occidentalis
Common Buttonbush
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.Common Buttonbush’s fragrant, white, spherical-shaped flowers resemble pin cushions. The flowers bloom in June, followed by round,...
Description:
Common Buttonbush’s fragrant, white, spherical-shaped flowers resemble pin cushions. The flowers bloom in June, followed by round, button-like fruits enclosing small nutlets, which persist into winter. The flowers provide a nectar source for native bees and butterflies. Buttonbush is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Titan sphinx (Aellopos titan) and Hydrangea sphinx (Darapsa versicolor). It prefers moist to wet conditions, and can tolerate flooding. The plants can be pruned or cut to the ground in early spring. Use Buttonbush in shrub borders, woodland gardens, rain gardens, and other moist areas of the yard, or plant along edges of ponds and other water features.
Plant Details:
Other Common Names: Button Willow
Plant Type: Shrub
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Late Spring to Early Summer
Bloom Colors: White
Deer Resistance: High
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Bees and Other Pollinators, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Birds
Salt Tolerance: Low to None
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: All Regions in NJ
Grows in Special Ecoregions: Barrier Island/Coastal, Pinelands
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay
Soil Moisture: Moist, Wet
Soil pH: Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Full Sun
Light Range: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Moist, Wet
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 6 - 15 ft
Spread: 5 - 8 ft
Growth Rate: Medium