Cephalanthus occidentalis

Buttonbush is a deciduous, perennial shrub in the madder family (Rubiaceae) native to eastern and southern North America, Central America and Cuba and is found in all areas of North Carolina. The species epithet is Latin for “western” in contrast with an Asian species that was described as Cephalanthus orientalis (the eastern buttonbush), now known as Nauclea orientalis.

Buttonbush needs consistently moist to wet, rich soils in full to partial sun. It does well in swamps, streambanks, riverbanks, lakes and in standing water up to 3 feet. It is adaptable to various soil types, except for dry ones, and is tolerant of heat and soil compaction. Flowering is poor in the shade or in dry soils. It is multi-stemmed with a rounded to irregular crown and needs little pruning.

It can grow as a tree up to 20 feet, but buttonbush is usually a small shrub up to 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. In June to September, small, fragrant, white, tubular flowers occur in round clusters that have protruding styles, giving them a pincushion-like appearance. The fruits are reddish-brown and persist into winter. Buttonbush has exceptional wildlife benefits, attracting many types of pollinators, waterfowl, songbirds and mammals. It is moderately resistant to browsing by deer. A dwarf cultivar is available and does well in the same growing conditions. 

This shrub can be used for erosion control on wet sites. It is ideal for a rain or water garden, around a pond or along streams and boggy areas with poor drainage. It is perfect for a pollinator garden, butterfly garden, children's garden or native garden.

Buttonbush was selected as the 2023 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. (Note that the video mentions "exserted stamens" in reference to the individual flowers in the inflorescence, but they are actually exserted styles.)