Common Name: Buttonbush

Latin Name: Cephalanthus occidentalis

Family:  Rubiaceae

Habit:  A deciduous shrub that grows to 12 feet in height.

Leaves:  Opposite, ovate to elliptic in shape with entire margins.

Flowers:  The white, globe shaped, flowers appear in the spring and summer.

Habitat:  Buttonbush occurs naturally in marshes, swamps, pond margins, cypress heads, lake banks, river banks, and wet ditches.

Landscape: It grows in part shade to full sun with moist to wet soils. Buttonbush needs moist to wet soils and will not survive in dry soil.

Wildlife use:  Bees and butterflies use the flowers as a nectar source. Songbirds and waterfowl eat the seeds.