SafePlants

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Considerations for Pets

• When taking cuttings from a buttonbush, a razor blade or sharp, nonserrated knife is recommended, as secateurs can crush the cut end.

Considerations for Children

• When taking cuttings from a buttonbush, a razor blade or sharp, nonserrated knife is recommended, as secateurs can crush the cut end.

Quirky Facts

• Buttonbush flowers are described as spherical buttons, pincushions, or round balls.
• The Latin name of the genus, Cephalanthus, alludes to the unique spherical shape of the flower heads.
• Buttonbush is considered underrated or "not popular yet" by some, despite its benefits to wildlife.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

• Scientific Name: Cephalanthus occidentalis
• Common Names: Buttonbush, Common Buttonbush, Button Ball, Button Willow, Honey-bells, Eastern Buttonbush, Riverbush
• Family: Rubiaceae (Madder or Coffee Family)
• Kingdom: (Implied: Plantae)
• Taxonomic Rank: Species
• Synonyms:
  • Cephalanthus occidentalis var. pubescens
  • Cephalanthus occidentalis var. californicus

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to North America.
• Found in eastern North America from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota and south.
• Ranges from Minnesota to Florida and from New England to California.
• Primarily found in wetland areas, around pond margins, or in soils that are permanently moist.
• Grows in water or moist soil, and can be found in water up to 4 feet deep.

Ecological Role

• Highly beneficial to wildlife.
• Seeds are eaten by ducks, geese, and shorebirds.
• Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators with its blossoms.
• Thickets of buttonbush help protect lakeshores from wave action.

Morphological Characteristics

• Deciduous shrub or small tree.
• Typically grows to 6-12 feet tall, but can reach 15-20 feet.
• Multi-stemmed with an open branched habit.
• Leaves are opposite (sometimes whorled), elliptical with a pointed tip.
• Known for its unique spherical clusters of white flowers.
• Woody shrub with stems that are usually multiple and branched.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Flowers attract a multitude of pollinators.
• Seeds provide food for various bird species.

Further Information

• Encyclopedia of Life
• RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)
• Dave's Garden