Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Flower of Buttonbush — Psamson at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Alternative Names

Button Willow, Honey Bells, Honeyballs, Little Snowball, Globe Flower

Description of Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), a member of the Rubiaceae (Madder Family), is a shrub that grows to 12 feet tall and has white to pink flowers that bloom in the summer.  Waterfowl enjoy the seeds in the fall.

Read more about it on this blog post.

Nectar Species

Buttonbush is a nectar plant for butterflies, especially swallowtails and monarchs.  Hummingbirds are also fond of the flowers.

Habitat

This shrub grows in wetlands and the edges of water bodies.

Range of Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) in the United States and Canada

Interesting Facts

The leaves of this shrub are arranged in a whorl and the flower looks like a pin cushion.