Cephalanthus occidentalis

Object Details

Description

Buttonbush is a plant most notable for its white, ball-like flower heads. Don’t let its whimsical flowers deceive you into thinking this plant is harmless, however. While some Native Americans used parts of the buttonbush medicinally, the plant contains a poison which will induce vomiting, convulsions, and paralysis if consumed.

Hardiness

-20 - 30 F

Attracts

Birds w/ seed; Butterflies w/ nectar; Sphinx Moth Host

Bloom Time

June to September

Medicinal / Pharmaceutical

Some Native Americans used decoctions of the bark as washes for sore eyes, antidiarrheal agents, anti-inflammation and rheumatism medications, skin astringents, headache and fever relievers, and to treat venereal disease. Bark was also chewed to relieve toothaches. Roots could be used to treat muscle inflammation and for the blood.

Provenance

Uncertain

Accession Number

2011-0994A

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Life Form

Deciduous shrub/sub-shrub

Average Height

6-15'

Bark Characteristics

Twigs: green and 4-sided Mature: brown and scaly

Bloom Characteristics

Tiny, tube shaped, 5-lobed flowers grow in dense, spherical flower heads. 1.5" diameter.

Foliage Characteristics

Lance-shaped, dark green, paired or whorled leaves emerge in May. 2-6" long.

Fruit Characteristics

Ball-like fruit made up of many, tiny, two-seeded nutlets. Usually persist through winter. September and October.

Key ID Characteristics

Pincushion flower heads, elongated lenticels, and swollen stem bases.

Range

E Canada to C America, Cuba

Habitat

Riparian

See more items in

Smithsonian Gardens Display Collection

On Display

National Museum of Natural History

Common Name

Button Bush

Common Buttonbush

Globe-flowered Bush

Swamp Globeflower

Button Willow

White Pond-dogwood

Honey Balls

Group

[vascular plants]

Class

Equisetopsida

Subclass

Magnoliidae

Superorder

Asteranae

Order

Gentianales

Family

Rubiaceae

Genus

Cephalanthus

Species

occidentalis

Smithsonian Gardens

Topic

Display Gardens

Living Collections

Record ID

ofeo-sg_2011-0994A

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax7b231ef77-97f9-454d-ba00-58190608f7d0