Button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is a shrub that can grow 1.5m – 3m tall and 1.5m – 3m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis).
This plant has several common names including: button bush, button willow, globe-flowered bush, honeybells, little snowballs, swamp globeflower or white pond-dogwood.
This is a deciduous plant that takes 5-10 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: button bush, button willow, globe-flowered bush, honeybells, little snowballs, swamp globeflower, white pond-dogwood
Scientific name: Cephalanthus occidentalis
Plant type: Shrubs
Habit: Bushy
Height: 1.5m – 3m
Spread: 1.5m – 3m
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Garden type: City & Courtyard Gardens, Informal Garden
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding, Low Maintenance
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) – Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Shrubs are fundamental elements in any garden.
They add color and interest throughout the seasons with their wide variety of flowers, foliage, fruits, trunks and stems.
Whatever the size or style of your garden, the permanent woody structure or the foliage of evergreen shrubs will give the space shape and dimension.
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is a plant that prefers to grow in loam or sand.
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
As for pH, it is a plant that grows ideally in soils with pH acid or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Cephalanthus occidentalis likes to grow in moist but well drained soil.
Sunlight
Button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) should be grown in full sun places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) – Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
