Sugar Shack buttonbush

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is an excellent native shrub — there are few pest or disease problems on its glossy green foliage, the lightly fragrant flowers attract pollinators and it’s adaptable to a range of growing conditions. Dwarf Sugar Shack® buttonbush is much smaller than the species but has all the same attractive qualities.

Moths, butterflies and bees visit the tiny white flowers that form the 1½-inch-diameter globes. By late summer the blooms fade and seedheads mature to red, then dry and fall apart by winter. It rarely reseeds.

In the wild, buttonbush is found in moist, low-growing areas — even swamps. So using it in a rain garden or any area that’s slow to dry out after a good downpour is a great idea.