Plant: Sugar Shack® Buttonbush

Plant description

A downsized selection of the native buttonbush, holding to about four or five feet tall and wide instead of the eight or more of the species. Fragrant creamy white pincushion flower heads open through summer above glossy bright green leaves that turn burgundy in autumn, and red fruit follows and holds into winter. It is a plant for wet ground, thriving in consistently moist to wet rich soils along ponds, streambanks, rain gardens and low meadows, in full sun to part shade. Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds and small mammals all use it, and it resists deer browsing, compaction, erosion, fire, heat and wet soil.

Flowers

Rounded heads about one and a half inches across are densely packed with tiny fragrant creamy white tubular flowers whose projecting styles make them look like pincushions.

Foliage

Glossy bright green leaves 4 to 6 inches long, elliptical to ovate with entire margins, held opposite or in whorls, turning glossy burgundy in autumn on this selection.

Fruit

Spherical ball like fruits made of many tiny two seeded nutlets follow the flowers, ripening reddish and persisting into winter.

Pruning

Best in moist soils; may be trimmed in early spring.

Native range

Eastern and southern North America, Central America and Cuba

Plant details