Button Bush (Cephalanthus Occidentalis) 20 seeds (#394)

The American native shrub, common buttonbush, develops striking pincushion-like flower balls of ivory in summer and early fall. These are followed by pleasing red fruits and russet red autumn leaves. This rounded, deciduous shrub is native to much of eastern North America as well as Cuba and regions in Mexico. Wild specimens can be found growing in the moist or wet soils around lakes, ponds and streams.
Buttonbush has shiny, medium green leaves that are oval to almost lance-like in shape. The leaf midrib is typically reddish, a sign of the pretty red fall color to come. In mid- to late-summer, its multi-stemmed branches display lots of fragrant, rounded flower clusters of ivory or light pink. Each tiny individual flower has a long floral tube filled with nectar that attracts butterflies and bees. Post pollination, plants yield many small round fruits that turn from green to red. These are eaten by waterfowl as they drop.
Grow common buttonbush in full sun to partial shade and any moist, humus-rich soil. It is adapted to wet soils with neutral soil pH. If plants become wild and unkempt, their branches may be severely cut back, or hard pruned, in early spring to make them neater and bushier. This is an ideal native shrub to plant as a bank stabilizer around water bodies or in moist woodland glens. This is a salt tolerant species, so it is also ideal for moist, Oceanside plantings. In the home garden it’s a great native for moist, low areas.

Genus - Cephalanthus
Species - Occidentalis
Common name - Button Bush
Pre-Treatment - Not-required
Hardiness zones - 5 - 11
Height - 5'-12' / 1.50 - 3.70 m
Spread - 10'-15' / 3 - 4.60 m
Plant type - Shrub
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Neutral
Soil type - Clay, Loam, Sand, well drained
Water requirements - Average Water, Ample Water
Landscape uses - Bog Garden, Foundation, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Water Gardens
Bloom season - Summer, Late Summer
Leaf / Flower color - Green / Light Pink, Ivory

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
Soak for 24 hours in warm water.
Sow from February to end of May.
Sow on surface, cover with clear plastic or glass. Keep at room temperature.