Host With the Most: Buttonbush

Some hosts really know how to lay out a banquet, and buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is one of them. Its alternate common name, ‘honey ball’, is a clue to the allure it holds for pollinators. The unique, Sputnik-shaped white flowers are a veritable fountain of pollen and nectar for many butterflies and bees. Blooming throughout the summer, it draws the attention of people and pollinators alike, and is an excellent native alternative to butterfly bush (Buddleia).
When the blooms are spent, they transform into round red seed heads (or ‘buttons’), which contain pairs of nutlets that are eagerly sought by birds and other wildlife. And the leaves of this deciduous shrub are host to the striking hydrangea sphinx moth (Darapsa versicolor) https://bugguide.net/node/view/5367 and Titan sphinx moth (Aellopos titan).
Button bush loves wet feet, and can even withstand flooding. It’s tolerant of all soil types and grows in sun or shade (though blooms will be more abundant in a sunny location). It quickly grows to its mature height of 6-8 feet, and can be pruned right down to the ground in spring to control any tendency towards legginess.
This undemanding and rewarding native really is a host with the most!
​Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo: MaryAnne@Adobe Stock