Cephalanthus occidentalis
Buttonbush is a striking native shrub perfect for wetland gardens and water edges. Known for its unique, fragrant white flowers, it’s a magnet for butterflies, bees, and even the occasional hummingbird. The flowers mature into decorative brown seed heads that linger into winter.
Thriving in full sun to part shade, Buttonbush grows 5-20 feet tall and loves moist to wet soils. It’s a wildlife favorite, providing food and habitat for ducks, other birds, and moths. On our property where it grows on the edge of our pond, The roots and base very much reminds me of a "fresh water mangrove".
Fun fact: Native Americans historically used Buttonbush for various medicinal purposes. It’s also toxic if ingested by humans or livestock, so keep that in mind!
This plant is what’s known as a deciduous plant.
Deciduous plants naturally shed their leaves in the fall and enter a dormant state for the winter. This is a critical survival strategy that allows the plant to conserve energy and rest its systems during the colder months. While the leaves fall away, the stems and root system remain alive and vital, waiting for the signal to wake up.
Contrary to some in the plant industry, we continue to sell our deciduous plants even when dormant in the winter because that is the best time to transplant. So yes, until spring emergence, you will be buying what looks like a stick in a pot. Rest assured, every plant's root system is thoroughly inspected before shipping.
All our plants, including Buttonbush, are organically grown with care, focusing on strong root systems for long-term success.
| Days to germination |
20-90 days |
| Days to maturity |
90-180 days |
| Life cycle |
Perennial |
| Plant time |
year-round |
| Spacing |
24"-48" |
| Sun |
full sun, part shade |
| Soil moisture |
moist well draining sandy soil very wet or complete inudation |
| Optimum soil P.H |
vary |
| Height |
3'-10' |
