Button Bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Buttonbush is a deciduous shrub that is native to most of the lower 48 states save the Pacific Northwest region and some western states. It is a member of the Coffee family, Rubiaceae. It typically grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. In these zones, Buttonbush requires full sun to partial shade, and medium to wet soils. Buttonbush can tolerate flood conditions and shallow standing water for short periods of time. It does not do well in dry soils. In natural settings, Buttonbush is often found in thickets, low woods, swamps, and stream margins, where older shrubs will have many branches and twisted trunks (see photos). Since it is tolerant of very wet soils, it is an ideal candidate for a rain garden or wetland restoration project.
Zone: 5 to 9
Height: 5.00 to 12.00 feet
Spread: 4.00 to 8.00 feet
Bloom Time: June
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Tolerate: Erosion, Wet Soil