Scientific Name:
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Pronunciation:
eff-uh-LAN-thuss ock-sih-den-TAY-liss
Common Name:
button bush
Family Name:
Rubiaceae
Plant Type:
Shrub - deciduous, Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Leaves opposite or whorled, ovate-elliptic, most blades 7-13cm long x 4-6cm wide; spikes round, 1.5-2.5cm wide on peduncule 2.5-5cm long, flowers white, funnelform, 1-1.5cm long x ~2mm wide (~4 mm wide if seen with petals tips spread apart), long protruding style, late summer. Winter ID: twigs reddish, glabrous, rounded; buds lacking scales,<1 wide and 0.2-2mm above a round leaf scar with a prominent bundle scars in centre; remnants of stipules.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Irregular, Round
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
2 - 3m
Mature Spread:
2 - 3m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Canada - eastern, Central America, Mexico, U.S. - northeast, U.S. - southwest
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Bog, Humus rich
Landscape Uses:
Attract birds, Attract butterflies, Mixed shrub border, Small garden/space, Summer interest, Winter interest
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Opposite, Whorled
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Lustrous
Shapes:
Elliptic, Ovate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Obtuse
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers clustered
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Funnelform
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jul, Aug
Additional Info:
Dense, round head-like inflorescences of white flowers in summer.
Fruit Type:
Achene
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Persistent, Clustered in round balls (not yet observed locally)
Bark Morphology:
Plated, Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
Brown
Leaf Bud Type:
Rounded or globular
Leaf Scar Shape:
Round
Organ Modifications:
Stipule (leafy)
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
