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 in the Rubiaceae (madder) family and native to East Canada, Central America, Cuba, much of the United States, and is found in all areas of North Carolina. 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.
This shrub needs consistently moist to wet, rich soils in full to partial sun. It does well in swamps, streambanks, riverbanks, lakes, and often 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.
In June to September small, fragrant, white, tubular flowers occur in round clusters that have protruding styles, giving them a pincushion-like effect. The fruits are reddish-brown, showy, and persist into winter. Buttonbush 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. Use it in a rain or water garden, around a pond or along streams and boggy areas with poor drainage.
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.
- 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.
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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
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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
- 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- Gray and somewhat peeling, develops furrows with age.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- New growth is green to red becoming woody and brown
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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
