Skip to content

Buttonbush

Buttonbush flowers
Photo credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC-by-sa

Buttonbush
(Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Height:

  • 5 to 10 feet

Bloom:

  • June to August

Classification:

  • Native
  • Tree / shrub

Sun:

  • Part shade

Soil moisture:

  • Medium to wet

Provides food for:

  • Butterflies (flowers)
  • Honey bees (flowers)
  • Native bees (flowers)
  • Hummingbirds (flowers)
  • Caterpillars (foliage)
  • Birds (seeds, caterpillars and other insects)

Notes:

  • Works well in rain gardens or around vernal pools
  • In garden settings, buttonbush can grow in much drier areas than it would typically be found growing in the wild.
  • In drier settings, you may need to water it occasionally during droughts.
  • Can be trimmed to maintain desired shape or height.

Native Range:

USDA range map for buttonbush
Map credit: USDA Plants Database

Relevant Backyard Ecology Resources: