How to Grow a Buttonbush

If you have a problem wet area in your garden, the buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) shrub could work well there. Unusual 1-inch white globular flowers, resembling fuzzy balls, give this shrub its name. Its smooth olive green stems turn red in winter.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Buttonbush
• Shovel
• Water
• Mulch or other organic material (optional)

1. Determine the planting site. Buttonbush grows best in wet soil and will tolerate both full sun or full shade. It is a good choice for naturalized areas along streams, marches or ponds and is helpful in controlling erosion.
2. Purchase the shrub. Buttonbush can usually be found containerized. However, seeds germinate easily, and cuttings are often used to propagate.
3. Prepare the planting site by clearing any unwanted organic matter, such as weeds. Dig the hole 3 to 4 times the width of the container in which the buttonbush was growing and equally as deep.
4. Position the buttonbush in the planting hole. Add a small amount of soil to stabilize the shrub, and then fill the hole with water. Backfill the remaining soil. Water again thoroughly. If planted in rich, wet soil, the buttonbush should not require much additional watering.
5. Mulch the planting site if desired. If you planted the shrub in a visible spot, mulching can dress the area. Mulching is not usually required in naturalized areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Buttonbush can be successfully grown in Hardiness Zones 5 through 10. The shrub can grow to a height of 3 to 12 feet and blooms in July and August.
• The brown nutlets of the button bush resemble the flower and are a favorite of many birds. Birds often nest in the shrubs open branches.
• Buttonbush blooms are extremely attractive of bees because they are a rich source of honey. Be cautious when considering the planting site. It also attracts butterflies.

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