Cephalanthus occidentalis – Buttonbush

A shrub for pond edge or moist soil in the garden where it can be cut back to 6 to 12 inches every two or three years to maintain a dense form. Or let it grow into a small tree and underplant with other bog lovers such as, Bog Rosemary, Sweet Gale, Coast Azalea or Labrador Tea. The flowers occur in golf ball-size globes and are extremely attractive to butterflies such as the tiger swallowtail shown here. Ducks and bitterns feed on the seeds. Buttonbush is very late to leaf out in the spring, so be patient before pruning off dead wood.