Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Quick Facts

• Type: shrub
• Size: 6-12 ft tall
• Sun: full
• Water: high
• Soil: Wet soils; tolerates standing water
• USDA zones: 7-11

Pincushion white flowers that butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds mob all summer.

Plant it IN the water – pond edges, ditches, rain gardens; it blooms its heart out.

In the Landscape

A natural for pond edges, rain gardens, bioswales, and any low, soggy spot where other shrubs fail. Give it room as a background specimen — 6 to 12 feet tall and wide — since it won't suit formal hedges.

Care & Propagation

Plant year-round and space 3 to 5 feet apart. Keep roots consistently moist; drought causes dieback, especially in South Florida. Prune after flowering to shape — it responds well and can even be trained tree-like. Note: the leaves are toxic if eaten, so site it away from livestock and curious pets.

Start from seed sown in moist soil (no pretreatment needed) or take tip cuttings in spring and hardwood cuttings in winter. Seeds can take a season to germinate, so cuttings are the faster route.

Wildlife Value

Summer's pincushion blooms draw bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and even ants to their nectar. The woody seed balls that follow feed ducks and other waterfowl through fall and winter, while the dense branching shelters nesting songbirds.

🌱 Fun fact: Early settlers chewed its bitter bark to ease toothaches — but don't try it; the plant is toxic, and modern dentistry is a better plan.

← Browse all Florida native plants

🌴 In Florida

Plant it IN the water – pond edges, ditches, rain gardens; it blooms its heart out.

🌿 Keep exploring

More Florida natives worth meeting:

• Adam's Needle (Yucca filamentosa)
• Allegheny chinquapin (Castanea pumila)
• American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)