Sputnik shrub Adina rubella
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-DEE-nah roo-BEL-lah
- Description
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Chinese buttonbush is a deciduous shrub in the madder family (Rubiaceae) native to China and Korea found along streams, rivers and beaches. The Genus name is Greek for clustered regarding the dense-headed flowers. The specific epithet is Latin meaning little red or somewhat red referring to the reddish margins on plant leaves.
The shrub will grow 5-10 feet tall and wide with an open form and arching branches. Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist to wet well-drained soils. It will tolerate periodic flooding to dry conditions and can be grown in colder zones but will die down to the ground in winter and grow back in spring as a smaller shrub.
The flowers appear in spring through summer and are rounded with protruding styles giving it a pin cushion look. The leaves are glossy green providing a nice backdrop to the flowers. The native North American buttonbush has showier flowers and is more readily available.
Chinese buttonbush could be used in a rain or water garden or along banks, streams and ponds.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
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- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Adina
- Species:
- rubella
- Family:
- Rubiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Asia, Southern China and Korea
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The creamy white, uniquely shaped, slightly fragrant flowers bloom as a rounded head summer to fall. They may be tinged with pink. Male and female flowers are found on the same plant.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The opposite, simple, lustrous, glossy, dark green leaves are 1 to 2 inches long. The margins are reddish. The leaves' luster provides a mirror-like reflection.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
