Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Also called: Common Buttonbush
Buttonbush. Cephalanthus occidentalis, the buttonbush, is a deciduous shrub native to wetlands, pond margins, and stream banks across the eastern and southern United States. Distinctive spherical white pincushion flower heads bloom in summer and are a magnet for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, followed by hard reddish-brown seed balls that persist into winter and feed waterfowl. One of the best native shrubs for wet sites and rain gardens.
Growing & care
- Sun: full sun to part shade; flowers heaviest in full sun.
- Water: high — buttonbush thrives in consistently wet to even flooded soil. Tolerates standing water and pond edges.
- Soil: wet, rich, mucky soils preferred; will grow in average garden soil with reliable moisture.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 5–11 — broadly adapted.
- Mature size: 6–12 feet tall and wide; can be cut back hard to control size.
- Pruning: cut back in late winter to shape or rejuvenate; flowers form on new wood.
Propagation
Softwood cuttings root readily in moist medium in summer. Hardwood cuttings taken in late winter also work. Fresh seed sown on wet soil germinates without stratification. Buttonbush also layers naturally where low branches touch wet ground.
Common problems
Buttonbush is nearly carefree in the wet sites it prefers; the most common failure is planting it in soil that dries out, where it struggles. Leaves may yellow in drought. It can sucker and spread at pond margins. Foliage is considered mildly toxic to livestock and pets if eaten in quantity due to cephalanthin and related compounds — site away from heavy pet-grazing areas, though casual contact poses little risk. An exceptional pollinator and wildlife plant for water-edge plantings.
Buttonbush — seeds, tools & books
Native range
Native to 37 states
