Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis

Add some summer blooms and pollinator appeal to your landscape with our native buttonbush.

Hardy in zones 3 to 11 it prefers full to partial sun and moist soil. It even tolerates wet to flooded conditions. This adaptability makes buttonbush suitable for rain gardens, pond side plantings and wet areas in the landscape. Newer compact cultivars like Sugar Shack have expanded its appeal and usability in various sized landscapes.

This 5- to 10-feet-tall native produces small fragrant round white flowers in midsummer. Watch for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds feasting on the nectar.

The flowers turn into spherical fruit that persist through winter. More than 24 species of birds dine upon its seeds adding to the winter interest.

Buttonbush’s glossy green leaves turn yellow in fall and its bark helps create its year-round appeal.

A bit more information: Ping Pong™ buttonbush is an upright cultivar that grows up to 8 feet tall. Like the species, its flowers are fragrant and white attracting a variety of pollinators and its seeds are a favorite of many birds.