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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); = 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. Basionym: Cephalanthus occidentalis L. 1753

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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© Mary Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA) source CC-BY-NC-SA, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Michael John Oldham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael John Oldham source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Cephalanthus occidentalis, Murray County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jake Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jake Smith source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Dan Vickers, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dan Vickers source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Michelle W., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michelle W. source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Ryan Watson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ryan Watson source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joseph Aubert, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Joseph Aubert source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jake Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jake Smith source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source
image of plant© Jake Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jake Smith source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jay Horn source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Michael John Oldham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael John Oldham source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© theo_witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by theo_witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jay Horn source
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | 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



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