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Native Plant Society of Texas

Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Other common name(s):

Common Buttonbush, Button Willow, Honey Bells, Honeybells, Honey Balls, Honeyballs, Button-bush

Family:

Rubiaceae (Madder Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Llano Estacado
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

6
to
12
ft.

Spread

6
to
6
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Loam, Clay, Moist

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

High

Native Habitat

Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Pink

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects, Moths, Bees

Maintenance

Buttonbush is a great shrub for naturalizing in wet areas and rain gardens. It is adaptable to a wide range of soils, but is not suitable for dry sites. Pruning may be done in early spring to control size if desired or to revitalize. Native habitat: swamps, around ponds and margins of streams throughout the state. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms June-September. A multi-stemmed shrub, often with crooked branches. Long, narrow leaves in pairs or in threes, with glossy upper surface, and duller lower surface. Tiny flowers are clustered in a white globe. The fruit is a round ball of nutlets. Seeds attract water fowl and other birds. Larval host: Titan Sphinx, Hydrangea Sphinx.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Cephalanthus occidentalis var. californicus, Cephalanthus occidentalis var. pubescens

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Buttonbush can be started from seeds sown outdoors in fall, immediately after the round brown seed pods are collected from plants. Successful seedlings will appear in late spring once temperatures are warm enough. Collections of seed can be made as soon as the fruiting heads turn reddish-brown, usually in October. Light pressure on the fruit will break them into separate seeds. https://www.growveg.com/plants/us-and-canada/how-to-grow-buttonbush/#:~:text=Buttonbush%20can%20be%20started%20from,want%20the%20plants%20to%20grow.
Stem Cutting Dip the cut end into rooting hormone and shake off any excess. Root the cuttings directly in moist ground where you want the plants to grow. Or fill a small pot with moist soil and poke a hole into the soil with your finger. Slide the cutting into the hole and firmly press the soil around the cutting. Place the cutting in an area with bright, indirect lighting and keep the soil moist. Roots should develop in a couple of weeks. Once roots form and new growth appears, you can transplant the cutting to its permanent location. Once the potted seedlings are at least a year old, transfer them to the garden, spaced about 3 feet apart. In spring, soon after new growth appears, select a stem that is around 4 to 6 inches long. It should have a node and some leaves on it. Using a sharp, clean knife, cut the stem below a node. Remove any lower leaves, keeping only the upper leaves. 1) https://www.thespruce.com/buttonbush-growing-guide-5323850#:~:text=Propagating%20Buttonbush,a%20purchased%20packet%20of%20seeds. 2) https://www.growveg.com/plants/us-and-canada/how-to-grow-buttonbush/#:~:text=Buttonbush%20can%20be%20started%20from,want%20the%20plants%20to%20grow. 3) https://www.thespruce.com/buttonbush-growing-guide-5323850#:~:text=Propagating%20Buttonbush,a%20purchased%20packet%20of%20seeds.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason