Cephalanthus occidentalis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cephalanthus occidentalis var. californicus
- Cephalanthus occidentalis var. pubescens
- Phonetic Spelling
- sef-ah-LAN-thus ock-sih-den-TAH-liss
- Description
-
Buttonbush is a deciduous shrub that is native to much of the USA and is found in all areas of NC. It can grow as a tree up to 20 feet but is usually a small shrub up to 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It is adapted to shorelines and swamps with saturated soil and full sunlight and will tolerate water depths up to three feet. It also does well in streambanks, riverbanks, lakes, and often in standing water. Flowering is poor in the shade or in dry soils. It is multi-stemmed with a rounded to irregular crown and needs little pruning.
In June- Sept. small, fragrant, white, tubular flowers occur in round clusters that have protruding styles giving it a pincushion-like effect. The fruits are reddish-brown, showy and persist into winter. It has exceptional wildlife benefits attracting many types of pollinators, waterfowl, birds and mammals. This plant has a dwarf cultivar available and both do best in natural areas.
This shrub can be used for erosion control on wet sites. It needs consistently moist to wet rich soils in sun to part sun. It is adaptable to various soil types except for dry ones. Use in a rain or water garden, around a pond or along streams and boggy areas with poor drainage. This plant is tolerant to heat and soil compaction.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Keystone’
Increased vigor and more flowers
- ‘Keystone’
- ‘Keystone’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Keystone’
Increased vigor and more flowers
- ‘Keystone’
- ‘Keystone’
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cephalanthus
- Species:
- occidentalis
- Family:
- Rubiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Canada, U.S.A to Central America, Cuba
- Distribution:
- USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NS , ON , PE , QC
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Songbirds and waterfowl eat seeds. Moderately deer resistant. This plant provides nectar for pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Irregular
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The flower heads mature into reddish-brown hard spherical ball-like fruits consisting of multiple tiny two-seeded nutlets. Fruits become available August-September. Fruiting heads usually persist throughout the winter.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1.5 inch round flower heads are densely packed with tiny fragrant tubular creamy-white flowers. The long projecting styles give it a pincushion-like or starburst effect. Blooms June-August.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 4-6 inch long and 1-3 inches wide ovate to elliptic bright green leaves are in pairs or threes. The apex is pointed and the base rounded to tapered. The margins are smooth and the upper surface is glossy with the lower surface being duller. Fall color is insignificant yellow.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- Gray and somewhat peeling, develops furrows with age.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- New growth is green to red becoming woody and brown
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Pond
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Deer
- Erosion
- Fire
- Heat
- Wet Soil
