Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis L.)

Growth and Attributes

Reproduction:  pollinated by hummingbirds and insects^{(Native Trees and Shrubs for Pollinators, n.d.)}

Pollinators…^{(Wheeler, 2017; Cephalanthus occidentalis, n.d.; Native Trees and Shrubs for Pollinators (n.d.)} 

• hummingbirds
• butterflies (for ex. Skippers,  Silver-spotted Skippers and monarchs)
• moths (for ex.  titan sphinx, the hydrangea sphinx, Ailanthus Webworm Moths and the royal walnut moth),
• European Honey Bees, Giant Resin Bees
• wasps
• flies
• beetles   

Habitat: wetlands, swamps, floodplains, mangrove, pocosin, riparian zones, understory, shorelines, stream and pond margins ^{(Cephalanthus occidentalis, 2023; USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Material Program, 2002; Cephalanthus n.d.)} 

Distribution: Eastern and Southern North America, shown in the USDA distribution map  

Cultivation: It requires saturated, humusy soils, full sunlight to part shade and fertilizer.  It tolerates erosion, shade, flooding and a great variety of soils. Susceptible to drought ^{(USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Material Program, 2002; Cephalanthus occidentalis, n.d.; Wheeler, 2017)} 

Conservation Status: Least concern  

Ecosystem value: food and shelter for birds, mammals and insects. Nectar is used in honey production ^{(Cephalanthus occidentalis, 2023; USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Material Program, 2002; Cephalanthus occidentalis, n.d; Wheelar, 2017).} 

Human uses: ornamental, medicine, erosion control, naturalize, rain gardens wetland restoration, habitat development ^{(Cephalanthus occidentalis, 2023; USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Material Program, 2002; Cephalanthus occidentalis, n.d); Wheeler, 2017).}   

Unique Characteristics: It is poisonous for livestock, it can grow in water 1m deep, and it produces flowers in June ^{(USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Material Program, 2002; Wheeler, 2017)}   

Toxicity:  is toxic to humans and other animals ^{(Cephalanthus occidentalis, 2023; USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Material Program, 2002; Cephalanthus occidentalis, n.d.)} 

Wetland plant status:  there are 2 wetland regions in VA:  

• Mountains and Piedmonts and Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain. 
• Common buttonbush is obligate (OBL) for both regions    

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Recommended Reading

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) listing   

Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora species distribution map   

USDA Fact Sheet  

References

Cephalanthus occidentalis. (2023, June, 15). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalanthus_occidentalis 

Cephalanthus occidentalis, n.d. Missouri Botanical Garden.   https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=g830 

Cephalanthus occidentalis L. Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora.  http://vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=2610&search=Search 

Cephalanthus occidentalis L. in GBIF Secretariat (2022). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-06-20.nces 

Cephalanthus occidentalis.  (n.d.) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  https://wetland-plants.sec.usace.army.mil/nwpl_static/v34/species/species.html?DET=001100# 

Native Trees and Shrubs for Pollinators (n.d.) https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/uploads/1/3/9/1/13913231/treesshrubs1.pdf 

USDA NRCS Northeast Plant Material Program. (2002, February, 01). Plant Fact Sheet Common Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis L.  https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_ceoc2.pdf 

Wheeler, J. (2017, October, 26).  Planting For Pollinators: Button Bush.  Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.  https://www.xerces.org/blog/planting-for-pollinators-button-bush 

^{Coauthored by Monica Marcelli & Adrian Hagarty, 2023.}