This compact Buttonbush dons white sweetly scented ball-shaped blooms. © Copyright 2020  |  Aquascapes Unlimited Inc.  |  Pipersville, PA  |  Site Produced by. It can grow as a tree up to 20 feet but is usually a small shrub up to 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Round, persistent fruits add to winter interest. Examples of deer resistant shrubs include the Butterfly Bush, Buttonbush, Dogwood, Elderberry, Forsythia, and Coralberry. Buttonbush shrubs love garden ponds, rain ponds, river banks, swamps or just about any site that is consistently wet. Part of the reason for its obscurity is that it suffers from identity crisis due to having so many local nicknames…some even shared with other species. This US-native shrub doesn't mind damp sites; it's great for rain gardens. The glossy, green foliage appears in spring, each oval leaf with a reddish hue. Cephalanthus occidentalis, Buttonbush,  is one of the most important native shrubs for helping to preserve water quality and for enhancing wildlife habitat. Blooms look like pincushions covered in pistils! The deer repelling shrubs must number 40% or more of your plants to have any significant effect. Buttonbush is a suitable shrub for butterfly gardens. Wood ducks use the plant’s structure for protection of brooding nests. Butterflies and nectar-feeding insects are attracted to the two-inch diameter, spherical white blooms. Buttonbush is great shrub for naturalizing in wet areas. I n many parts of the country there are great Buttonbush swamps where the timber has been cleared and Buttonbush has taken over. Buttonbush is a somewhat coarse, deciduous shrub with an open-rounded habit that typically grows 6-12 (infrequently to 20) tall. Box 256 Brodhead, WI 53520 608-897-8641 taylor.creek@appliedeco.com. 17921 W Smith Road P.O. San Joaquin Valley landmark tree. Generally, deer do not like to consume plants that are prickly, have thick leaves, have a medicinal use, or have a mint or lemon scent. A lone buttonbush served as a landmark on an old trans-San Joaquin Valley trail, and was used by ancient Yokut Indians as a … The few exceptions seem to be deer, which browse on the plant. From fawn through adulthood, deer use and require both. Buttonbush- Cephalanthus occidentalis grows best with wet feet.It grows well with ample moisture even in shallow standing water. Long, projecting styles give the flower heads a distincti… https://www.tarawildlife.com/native-buttonbush-food-wildlife Gardenality is a gardening-centric site made by gardeners for gardeners with tools that enhance any gardening for the expert to the weekend gardener. If youre thinking about planting a rain garden, growing buttonbush is a great idea. Another item frequently absent is an adequate proportion, variety and quality of soft mast. What Eats a Buttonbush?. In addition, buttonbush is deer … The shrubs provide nesting areas for birds and shelter for many animals. A buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) brings more than its sweet scent and charming blooms into your garden -- it is … This deciduous shrub was all but made for areas too wet for most other plants. Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis. These feed bees and butterflies. Deer and a few other mammals will feed on the new growth of the plant, but the plant is known to produce a poisonous substance in its bark and leaves called cephalathin. The NRCS reports that the seeds are eaten by 8 species of waterfowl. Baldwin City, Kansas. Bees use it to produce honey. Buttonbush usually grows on banks, partly in water, but can grow in moist areas. Now Available! your own Pins on Pinterest One of the more unusual flowering shrubs in our native plants garden (located between Tara Lodge and the Herbert Bryant Conference Center) is buttonbush, also known as button willow. It is common throughout Missouri, most frequently occurring in wet open areas, low woods, thickets, swamps, upland sink-hole ponds, river bottomland and stream/pond margins (Steyermark). It is an excellent choice for helping to reduce erosion. Add in cool looking, fragrant white flowers and you've got a delightful plant that shines from spring to fall. Foliage: Large, glossy, oval deciduous leaves are green with a bronze tinge during summer and they turn fiery shades in autumn and fall. Where to begin. One of the most limiting factors I’ve noticed on undermanaged hunting properties is the lack of good escape and security cover. Its native range extends into the Great Plains, and there are pockets of buttonbush in New Mexico, Arizona and … https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_ceoc2.pdf, http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/buttonbush, https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/cepocc/all.html, Bald Cypress Tree: Native Plant of the Month, The 2019 Flood: An Agonizing Journey – An Inevitable Result. Other insects feed on the foliage and often become fish food on windy days! But if you're a wood duck, a deer, a butterfly or a bee, you gotta love this plant because of the vital role it plays in your life. Sugar Shack Buttonbush Care. Read on for buttonbush plant info, including a few tips for buttonbush plant care. We have put together the following list of deer resistant shrubs, and deer repelling shrubs that we use in our landscapes. In most situations, button bush usually experiences minimal damage from insects and diseases. But Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) has a lot more to offer than to pose as a simple conversation starter. Some studies report that over 24 species of birds feed on the seeds produced by buttonbush (Source: The Morton Arboretum). Cephalanthus occidentalis is a fun and charming plant that has an equally fun and charming common name – buttonbush.This moisture-loving flowering shrub is easy to grow, tolerant of most everything apart from getting dry, and in return for keeping it moist and happy it will furnish you with the kind of flower that makes children squeak and adults smile fondly. White-tailed deer browse foliage. Cephalanthus Sugar Shack - Common name:Buttonbush - A prized native now in a mangeable size. The plant tolerates water as deep as 3 feet. I could not believe it. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is usually found in wet soils, such as swamps or the soil adjacent to the edge of a pond or stream. Buttonbush flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies. So begs the question, what plant provides deer a high-preference soft … Read More Continuous interest and color provide a spectacular show from spring through fall. This little button bush variety provides the same stellar features as the traditional shrub, but in a dwarf size. Buttonbush usually grows on banks, partly in water, but can grow in moist areas. 224 East 1260 Road Baldwin City, KS 66006 785-594-2245 taylor.creek@appliedeco.com Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are attracted to common buttonbush for its nectar. Choose a wet or low area of the garden if you do not live near a natural lowland. In the fall, the hard ball-shaped fruit provides an excellent food source for twenty-four species of birds, including many songbirds and waterfowl. Deer tend to become annoying pests when they visit gardens and feast on the plants. Native to Chicago area and eastern U.S. In an effort to relax and wind down from a long day, I had just sat down, flipped on the television to my favorite hunting channel and proceeded to watch a self-proclaimed habitat “expert” actually promote planting a non-native, invasive shrub called autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) as a … Read More White-tailed deer browse foliage in the northeastern United States. Buttonbush is a deciduous shrub that is native to much of the USA and is found in all areas of NC. Several improved cultivars of button bush are available. Plant Sugar Shack Buttonbush where it will get at least 4 hours of sun a day. They are followed by red fruits that attract birds. Description Buttonbush flower. New foliage emerges glossy red, progresses to green and then turns burgundy in the fall. Common name: Sugar Shack buttonbush Botanical name: Cephalanthus occidentalis 'SMCOSS' or Sugar Shack Flowers: Fragrant, spherical white flowers appear in summer. It can also grow well on moderately dry soils, as long as it gets enough water when it is becoming established. Pollinators will visit the fragrant white spherical 1-2” spring flowers. Tara Wildlife|6791 Eagle Lake Shore Rd.|Vicksburg MS 39183, Phone: 601-279-4261|Fax: 601-279-4227|Email: tara@tarawildlife.com, © 2020 Tara Wildlife. These insects and birds feed on the nectar produced by the flowers. However, this shrub is also well adapted to drier bluffs and hillsides, so it can tolerate a dry site. Sep 17, 2014 - We love Sugar Shack buttonbush for its round spring flowers and fiery fall foliage. All rights reserved. Not anymore! The flowerheads are composed of multiple tiny white flowers, making it resemble a small round pincushion. Brodhead, Wisconsin. It offers both food and shelter. These nutlets start out red in color and then turn brown as they age. Upright, arching branches, glossy oval leaves. Buttonbush has to be one of the most underrated or “not popular yet” plants on the market, but we’re here to change that. (Fisherman have learned to cast near Buttonbush overhangs). Oct 21, 2017 - This Pin was discovered by Sandriel Gentzel. Planting Berries for Deer. After the cluster of tiny flowers is done blooming, it produces a ball of nutlets in the fall that are fed on by ducks and songbirds. The glossy green leaves and fragrant, round flower clusters during mid-summer attract butterflies. It’s a unique bloom and it really stands out in the garden. Native Buttonbush Shrubs - Cephalanthus occidentalis, commonly called buttonbush shrubs, button-willow and honey-bells, is a North American native flowering shrub.Tolerant of wet soils, the button bush grows well in pond and low lying areas where the soil may stay damp or wet.Excellent choice for rain gardens and woodland gardens. The town of Buttonwillow, California was named for the buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). The nuts and leaves can continue to provide food for waterfowl and shorebirds will consume the seeds. Low maintenance, year-round appeal. Check out those flowers! Buttonbush is a unique plant that thrives in moist locations. In summer, it’s covered in these amazing spherical flowers and emits a delightful sweet scent (a bit like honey) on to the warm air. We've cut the size in half and added colorful red fruit and glossy foliage. When grown near water, buttonbush is often used by wood ducks to rear their brood or as cover. Waterfowl enjoy reddish-brown fruit which persists through winter. The flowers on a buttonbush tree attract butterflies, moths, bees, and even hummingbirds. Contact a local nursery to … In 2016, a compact, rounded version called Fiber Optics was released. IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE: Many species of waterfowl and shorebirds eat common buttonbush seeds [18,28].White-tailed deer use of common buttonbush browse varies from light in Pennsylvania [] to heavy in Nova Scotia [].Bees use common buttonbush to produce honey [].PALATABILITY: NO-ENTRY NUTRITIONAL VALUE: NO-ENTRY COVER VALUE: Common buttonbush is … It grows well in wet soils overhanging water and its branches provide shade for spawning crappie and ducks. This shrub is deciduous, losing its leaves in the winter. It also provides some winter interest due to persistent flower head structure, even after seeds are eaten or fall off. Tiny, tubular, 5-lobed, fragrant white flowers appear in dense, spherical, long-stalked flower heads (to 1.5 diameter) in early to mid-summer. Red fruit follows in late summer. In the fall, the leaves turn reddish-brown or yellow in color. The coloring of the leaves slowly merges into bronze, adopting a lovely burgundy for autumn. When planning to buy ornamental shrubs, it is important to look at their resistance to deer in order to avoid browsing damage. The extensive fibrous root system of buttonbush pulls nutrients out of water and the water's edge. Oh man! However, deer don't have to be the gardener's enemy, if provided wild food plots. Cephalanthus occidentalis, Buttonbush, is one of the most important native shrubs for helping to preserve water quality and for enhancing wildlife habitat.The extensive fibrous root system of buttonbush pulls nutrients out of water and the water's edge. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Wildlife Value of Buttonbush. Deer will feed on the new growth of buttonbush. Though it looks impossibly exotic, Sugar Shack® buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is actually a very easy to grow North American native shrub. Buttonbush provides beautiful flowers and food and habitat for native animals. How to grow buttonbush: Buttonbush most frequently occurs in nature where the ground is damp or even wet, so grow it in a similar spot in the garden. Sign up for our email newsletter and you'll get up-to-date news about what's going on at Tara and information about upcoming events. Buttonbush has long been prized as a native, but it was way too big for most landscapes. Chewing insects sometimes feed on the leaves in Florida. Discover (and save!) Design by Kathy Jacobs Design & Marketing, LLC. Other than a need for watering when conditions are dry, Sugar Shack needs little care. L. Allain Starting in June and continuing through September, you can find 1-inch diameter round, spiky-looking blooms all over this shrub. Ducks and other waterfowl feed on its seeds and use the shrub for cover. Vicksburg, Mississippi. seeds of common buttonbush. It is a good choice for pond edges or rain gardens. 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