Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Cephalanthaceae (Buttonbush Family)
▲▼ flowering plants in spring
▲ flowers, leaves
▲ fruit in late summer
Location near campus: in east end of Master Gardener Demonstration Garden in Nathanael Green Park, just north of Botanical Center Building
Cephalanthus occidentalis: Buttonbush
· leaves deciduous, opposite or whorled in 3s or 4s, simple, oval with pointed tips and entire margins; dark green above and lighter below
· stems green to reddish-brown or gray
· flowers white, somewhat fragrant in globe-shaped cluster arising in axils of upper stem leaves—flowers on current season’s growth
o flowers are very attractive to many species of butterflies
· seedheads are dried flower clusters and are reddish-brown, fading to gray
· grows 4-10 feet tall in upright, rounded habit, with single stem or few stems coming up from base
· prefers full sun, but can tolerate moderate shade (open woods)
· can tolerate submersion in water; prefers moist, well-drained soils; can tolerate alkaline or acidic soils
· native to southwest Missouri