Rain Garden Plants: Buttonbush
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is a multistemmed, perennial shrub that has white, tubular flowers clustered in pincushion-like spheres. Persistent reddish-brown fruits add winter interest. The bark is smooth, with raised bumps (lenticels) on the surface. Lenticels turn into fissures on older stems. The opposite, dark-green leaves are 2 to 7 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide. Buttonbush can withstand heat and soil compaction but does not grow well in dry soil.
Provides erosion control. Also provides excellent wildlife benefits by attracting pollinators, mammals, and birds, including waterfowl. It is moderately resistant to deer browse. Prune in dormant season or early spring before new growth begins.
Height: 5 to 12 feet
Bloom color: White
Bloom time: June Hardiness zone: 4 to 10
Salt tolerance: Low
Spreading habit: Self-sown seedlings and root sprouts may form colonies
Site Conditions
Sun: Sun/partial shade
Soil: Well drained
Hydrologic zone: Wet/moist; not tolerant of dry soil
Sources
North Carolina State Extension
United States Department of Agriculture
