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Cephalanthus occidentalis Linnaeus. Common name: Buttonbush, Honeyballs, Globe-flowers. Phenology: Mar-Jul. Habitat: Streambanks, riverbanks, depressional wetlands, lakes, marshes, often in standing water. Distribution: NL, ME, ON, MI, WI, MN, NE, NM, AZ, and CA south through Mexico to Guatemala and Honduras; Cuba (where uncertainly native).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy : = Ar, Fl5, GrPl, K4, Meso4.2, Mex, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Ridsdale (1976), Rogers (1987), (basionym); = Cephalanthus occidentalis L. var. occidentalis — GW2, including var. pubescens; > Cephalanthus occidentalis L. var. californicus Benth. — Tx; > Cephalanthus occidentalis L. var. occidentalis — C, F, G, Il, Tx; > Cephalanthus occidentalis L. var. pubescens Raf. — C, F, G, Il, Tx

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
  • Great Plains: OBL
  • Midwest: OBL
  • Northcentral & Northeast: OBL

Heliophily : 6

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image of plant© Alan Cressler: Cephalanthus occidentalis, Murray County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 4-8 ft.

plant sale text: Common buttonbush is a southeastern native shrub that is easy to grow and an excellent choice for naturalizing. Interesting globular heads of creamy-white flowers are a preferred nectar source for ruby-throated hummingbirds. The sweetly fragrant flower heads persist for several months. A single shrub will spread at a moderate rate into a handsome thicket. This species is easy to grow although it is infrequently offered for sale. Attractive to pollinators. The genus Cephalanthus supports up to 19 species of lepidoptera. 2023 N.C. Wildflower of the Year

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germination code: 1

native range: eastern North America