Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Landscape Index Page Native landscape trees Native landscape shrubs

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Pictures - Buttonbush plant, close-up of flowers & leaf

Family - Rubiaceae

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

Planting Zones - 5 through 10

Description -  Buttonbush ( Cephalanthus occidentalis ) 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, producing 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.

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