Button Bush is a deciduous shrub native to North America and part of the Rubiaceae family. In consistently wet soil, the shrub does well in complete sun or partial shade. The plant can tolerate shallow standing water and flooding, including swamps adjacent to ponds and streams. It can withstand sand, clay, and limestone in the soil. The bark can range in color from grayish-green to nearly black. The plant will grow up to 12 feet and can spread 8 feet. Pruning, while not necessary, can happen in early spring.
The Benefits Of Planting Button Bush Live Stakes
Leaves emerge in late spring and are bright green. They are usually in pairs or threes on branches in an opposite or whorled pattern. The leaves are smooth, up to 4 inches long and 2 inches wide. It is a low-maintenance plant with a white flower, or more rarely, a pale pink flower that appears typically in June and is fragrant. The Button Bush will bear flowers for several months. The flower has a tubular, pincushion-like appearance and will mature into ball-shaped brown fruits. The fruits will last throughout the winter months.
Attract Wildlife With The Button Bush Live Stakes
Waterbirds consume the seeds, and wood ducks use the plant for nest protection. The shrub attracts bees, hummingbirds, robins, and butterflies and is a common nectar source across most of the continental United States.
Other names for the shrub include button-willow and honey-bells. Button Bush is an ornamental plant that is an attractive addition to a decorative or water garden. It can serve as a windbreak on a property with a long life.
Information About The Button Bush Live Stakes
Hardy Planting Zone- 5 to 9
Bloom Season (if any) - June Bloom
Color - White
Height at Maturity - 5 to 12 feet
Soil Type Preferred- moist