This native shrub blooms with flowers that you just have to see to believe! Every summer (mid-late July for us here in Michigan), it explodes in these amazing, perfectly spherical white blooms which give off a sweet honey scent on the air. They are irresistible to butterflies and other pollinators. What's special about Sugar Shack buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is that it's a fraction of the size of conventional buttonbush - it's perfectly sized even for small yards. After the flowers fade, they leave behind bright red fruits that bring color and beauty clear through the first frost. Very glossy foliage keeps it eye-catching beyond its bloom time as well.
Plant Sugar Shack buttonbush on its own as a commanding specimen, or group together as a hedge or backdrop to your pollinator garden. This durable native plant is unbothered by deer and grows well even in very wet soils.
Vital details:
Size: 4-5' tall and wide
Light: full sun (6+ hrs/day), Part sun (4-6 hrs/day)
Water: Average moisture
Hardiness: USDA zone 4-10 (Find your hardiness zone)
Pollinator value: attracts butterflies and other pollinating insects.
Notable features: fragrant, native, deer resistant, good for hedges.
Maintenance: Benefits from a good 2-3" layer of shredded bark mulch. Regular pruning is not required, but if you wish to prune, do so in early spring, just before the new growth begins to emerge. Thrives in moist to wet soils.
Pot size: one quart
Plant name: Cephalanthus occidentalis 'SMCOSS' pp#26,543, cbr#5124