Button Willow

Cephalanthus occidentalis
sef-ah-LAN-thus ox-eh-DEN-tal-is
Rubiacede or Coffee Family

Common Names: Buttonbush, Common Buttonbush, Button Willow, Honeyball and Honeybells.

Ht. 10’-12’ Spread 10’-12’
Deciduous – Sun / Part Shade
Spacing: 6’-8’

HABIT: White or pale pink summer flowers in 1”-2” globes. Fruit follow in heavy redish brown clusters. Hardy from zone 5 to 10.

CULTURE: Bush or small tree with round, fragrant pale pink to white flowers that bloom all summer in the sun, off and on in the shade. Easy to grow in wet soil and even in shallow water but adapts well to normal soils.

USES: Attracts bees, butterflies, and waterfowl. Leaffooted bugs like to be on this plant but don't seem to hurt it.

PROBLEMS: Few other than hard to find in the nursery trade. Foliage is toxic and unpalletable to livestock.

OTHER INFORMATION: Native Americans used buttonbush for a number of medicinal purposes. The root and bark were used to treat eye disorders, the bark was chewed to relieve toothaches and was boiled and used to treat headaches, dysentary, fevers, and stomaches.

      

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