Wildflowers of the United States

Buttonbush, Common Buttonbush, Button Ball, Riverbush, Honey-bells, Button Willow - Cephalanthus occidentalis

Genus Common Name: Buttonbush

Native Status: Native

Perennial Dicot Shrub Tree

Cephalanthus occidentalis - Buttonbush, Common Buttonbush, Button Ball, Riverbush, Honey-bells, Button Willow. While there are 17 species in the Cephalanthus genus worldwide, there are only two species of Buttonbush found in the United States. Mexican Buttonbush, Cephalanthus salicifolius is native to a couple of the southernmost counties in Texas, the only state in the U.S. in which it is found. The species presented here, Common Buttonbush - Cephalanthus occidentalis - is found throughout the eastern United States and Canada, as far west as Nebraska and Texas, and is also found in Arizona and California. (I find it curious that it makes the jump from Texas to Arizona, but is apparently not found in New Mexico, which lies between those two states.) Some authorities recognize two varieties, with the western variety known as California Buttonbush.

Common Buttonbush is a wetland shrub or small tree which can grow to nearly 10 feet tall along the banks of streams, ponds, lakes, marshes, and in other wetland areas. The bark contains a poison that will cause vomiting, paralysis, and convulsions if eaten.

Found in:
AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV

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Distribution of Cephalanthus occidentalis in the United States and Canada:

Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key
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Site: Hamilton County, TN Date: 2012-August-19	Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson Nikon D7000 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The inflorescence is a dense sphere of many small white tubular flowers with 4-lobed corollas and a significantly exserted style. The style is terminated with a more or less spherical stigma which is usually covered with yellow pollen.

Site: Hamilton County, TN Date: 2012-August-19	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
The young stems of Buttonbush are red and glabrous.
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Site: Hamilton County, TN Date: 2012-August-19	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
Buttonbush is usually a shrub but occasionally a small tree, growing usually to less than 10 feet tall.
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Site: Hamilton County, TN Date: 2012-August-19	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
The leaves are opposite or occasionally in whorls of three.
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Site: Hamilton County, TN Date: 2012-August-19	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
Pre-efflorescence
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Site: Hamilton County, TN Date: 2012-August-19	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
Post-efflorescence
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References used for identification and information:

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Cephalanthus occidentalis initially published on USWildflowers.com 2012-08-19; Updated 2017-03-02

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
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Code Update 20230302