Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Buttonbush is one of the most flood tolerant shrubs in North America. It can be found in swampy ground from southern Canada to the Florida Keys. It is not salt tolerant and must have moist to wet organic soil to thrive.
The foliage is deciduous, turning a bright red before falling in October. The foliage of Winged Sumac, Red Maple, Virginia Willow, Virginia Creeper and Firebush all turn red about the same time and will light up your yard for a brief time. The leafless stems of Buttonbush are interesting and may even make you feel cold on a warm Florida winter’s day.
The 3 quarter inch balls of tiny white flowers are fragrant and attract many insects including butterflies. The following ball of thistle sized seeds are eaten by various seed eating birds including ducks. This is a medium sized shrub that is usually below ten feet, but may reach over twenty feet. A yearly cutting back will keep it low and bushy.
Find or create a low, moist to wet area of the yard. Plant wetland trees and shrubs like Cypress, Buttonbush, Popash, Carolina Willow, Pond Apple and Virginia Willow. Then plant herbaceous ground covers like Pickerelweed, Thalia, American Crinum Lily, Arrow Arum, Florida Lily, Alligator Lily, Giant Leather Fern and various Sagittaria species.
Just outside the flood zone plant Red Maple, Sweet Bay, Swamp Bay, Florida Elm, Sweetgum, Hackberry, Wild Coffee, Firebush and other swamp species to create a portion of the property that celebrates the seasons. But be careful! The change of color, the sweet smell of rotting leaves and the starkness will bring back fond memories of fall, and even possible sadness, if you are from north of Central Florida.