Cephalanthus occidentalis - Button Bush

Cephalanthus occidentalis, universally known as Buttonbush or Common Buttonbush, is a highly adaptable, moisture-loving deciduous shrub native to wetlands, swamps, and riparian zones throughout eastern and southern North America. It is most famous for its distinct, spherical, pincushion-like white flower heads that bloom in mid-to-late summer. These highly fragrant flowers look like miniature exploding stars or satellites and serve as an absolute magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Following pollination, the blooms mature into hard, reddish-brown spherical nutlets or seed balls that persist through the winter, providing a vital food source for waterfowl and shorebirds.

This is a premiere plant for rain gardens, boggy areas, and retention ponds. It thrives in consistently wet, saturated soil and can tolerate standing water up to 6 inches deep long-term, as well as periodic deep flooding. Unlike many wetland plants, it can adapt to average garden soil, provided it is watered frequently and heavily mulched.