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Glossary

Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis

Go to - Landscape Trees
Landscape Shrubs

Family - Rubiaceae

Natural Habitat - Banks of streams, lakes, swamps and other wetlands

U.S.D.A. Zones 5 - 10

Buttonbush is a medium to large shrub, native to Florida wetlands. Typically growing with several stems, Buttonbush has a symmetrical, rounded crown 4 to 10 feet tall & produces fragrant white flowers in distinctive round clusters from late spring through summer. Fruit is a hard round red berry, 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter.

Leaves are arranged in whorls, sometimes pairs & are elliptic to ovate with entire margins which are often undulate ( wavy ), leaves commonly reflex upward from mid-vein to the margins in a V shape.

Landscape Use - A good native shrub for pond or lake margins, wet & seasonally flooded sites. Buttonbush may be grown on drier sites if irrigated to provide adequate moisture. Attractive to Butterflies.

Propagation is by seed or cuttings, full sun to partial shade, soil may be acidic to slightly alkaline. Buttonbush is not drought or salt tolerant.

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