Toxic Plant Known to be toxic - Toxic if ingested.
Image of Cephalanthus occidentalis
Source: Krzysztof Ziarnek
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Plant Names

image of Shrub
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Eastern Buttonbush
Céphalanthe occidental

Synonyms

bois noir
bois-bouton
céphalante commun
céphalante occidental

Plant Characteristics

Bloom Colour: White Bloom Period: Jun - Jul
Max Height: 12.0 feet
Max Width: 4.0 feet
Light Condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will that come back year after year Plant is dioecious Need a male and female plant to produce seeds
Gardener Experience:
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
wetland garden Suitable for wetland garden
rain garden Suitable for rain gardens
shoreline_rehab Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
hedge Can be used as a hedge
Ecological Benefits: No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Salt Tolerant Tolerates salt conditions
Deer Resistant Deer resistant
Rabbit Resistant Rabbit resistant
Limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
Sand Tolerant Tolerates sandy conditions
Acidic Soil Tolerant Tolerates acidic soil conditions
Juglone Tolerant Tolerates juglone conditions
Transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:

Seed and plant distribution status

No seeds available for this plant.

We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Cephalanthus occidentalis
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Atlantic Maritime
  • Boreal Shield
  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Cephalanthus occidentalis

  • Eudryas grata (Beautiful Wood Nymph)

Specialized Bees Supported by Cephalanthus occidentalis

No bee data available for this plant.

Complementary Plants

  • No complementary plants found.

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
  • Hydrangea (Hydrangea)
  • Buxus sempervirens (Boxwood)

Sowing Information

Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Surface sow
  • Sow anytime
  • Stratification duration: 0 days
  • Self-seeding
  • Notes: Can be sown in late spring in warm soil.

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: September
  • Harvesting indicator:
    • Seeds easily fall off when you gently pull them off
  • Harvesting:
    • Shake seed head in paper bag
  • Seed viability test:
    • No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: Six (6) seeds (eyeball)
  • Seed storage:
    • Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
    • Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
  • No harvesting video available at this time.

Toxicity Notes

Toxic if ingested.