Fiber Optics Button Bush is a native multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a compact rounded habit and unusual round flower clusters resembling pincushions. The foliage emerges red or copper and matures to a glossy dark green before turning copper again in fall. glossy serrated green leaves. The highly fragrant pincushion flower clusters are dove white and bloom in summer, followed by red red-brown fruits that last through winter. Prefers rich, moist to wet and well-drained soils.
Cephalanthus occidentalis is an excellent native replacement for butterfly bushes, and acts as a host plant for several types of butterflies and attractive moths. It also provides late season seeds and nesting areas for birds.
|
Type: |
|
|
Origins: |
Eastern N. America; GA Native |
|
Height: |
5’ - 6’ |
|
Spread: |
4’ - 8’ |
|
Spacing: |
6’ |
|
USDA Hardiness Zone: |
4 - 9 |
|
Culture: |
|
|
Bloom Color: |
White |
|
Season of Interest: |
MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low maintenance. Can tolerate any soil condition but dry. No serious pest or disease issues.
LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Wildlife Gardens, Naturalized Areas, Pond Edges, Coastal Exposure, Urban Gardens, Foundational Plantings, and Hedges.
COMPANION PLANTS: Sweet Flag, Ferns, Iris
IMAGE: Rufino Osorio (also known as Desmodium), Cephalanthus occidentalis, CC BY-SA 2.5, (2) Famartin, 2020-06-28 13 17 59 Buttonbush flowers along Old Dairy Road in the Franklin Farm section of Oak Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia, CC BY-SA 4.0, (3) Photo by F. D. Richards, Cephalanthus occidentalis Fiber Optics 'Bailoptics', 2018 photo
*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.
