Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis L., Native Minnesota Wildflower shrub, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis L.	Madder	Woodland - bog	Early Summer to Fall
Other names and notes	This unique wetland shrub, named for the round flower heads, begins bloom in early summer. The small white tubular flowers that grow out of the round 1" wide head have a long protruding style which is clearly evident in the photos. There are several bushes in the bog area near Guidebook Stations 23 and 25 where they have the wet areas they prefer. One plant is well over 10 feet high. Leaves are opposite, entire, and 2 to 6 inches long. The seed matures in those round clusters and seed dispersal establishes new plants. Un-rooted cuttings can even establish new plants if other competing vegetation is removed from around the cutting. The plant is delightful to look at but rather coarse and thus a poor choice for a garden ornamental. However, Buttonbush is very beneficial to wildlife. The seeds are eaten by 8 known species of waterfowl and the twigs are eaten to mammals. It will grow in dryer soils, but will not flower well.


Above and below: The white flowers of mid to late July.	Above: Flower seed heads of late August.

Notes: Eloise Butler's records show that she obtained plants of this species on July 2, 1907 from Malden, Massachusetts. This was where her sister, Cora Butler Pease, lived and to where Eloise would return in for summer visits until 1910. She either collected these herself, or Cora did, and then had them shipped to her in Minneapolis. It is native to Minnesota only in counties on the eastern edge of the state from Pine in the north to Houston in the south with the exception of Goodhue. In North America it is native to all states along and east of the Mississippi River and to most Canadian Provinces to the North of those states.

Eloise Butler wrote of this plant: "The “buttons” are creamy balls over an inch in diameter, composed of closely packed, small, tubular flowers. A specimen of this interesting plant, with many other species, was shipped from Massachusetts for planting in the wild garden in July of the first year of its founding.[Note: The first plant was obtained from Malden MA and planted on July 2, 1907.] The location of the plant was not recorded, and it was supposed to have died out. The next year another plant was obtained, which produced one blossom the following season, and the next summer a dozen or more blooms. While admiring these, a random glance perceived a bush some distance within the swamp luminous with starry globes. It was the first buttonbush, all covered with buttons à la mode, which had grown to maturity, undetected in the rank vegetation." Published Aug. 20, 1911, Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.

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References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 15, 16, 30, 31, 33, W2 & W3. Distribution principally from W2 and also 31, 34 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.

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