Light
Full sun for the most flowers; part shade is fine.
Growing guide · Shrubs
Cephalanthus occidentalis
How to grow Buttonbush 'SMCOSS (Sugar Shack®)'.
Pincushion flowers. Pollinators go nuts.
- Light
- Full sun, part sun
- Water
- High
- Zones
- 5–9
- Size
- 3–4 ft tall and wide
- Spacing
- 3–4 ft apart.
- Pets
- Not on the ASPCA pet-safe list; keep it out of reach
Water
Keep it moist. It tolerates standing water but not drought.
Planting and soil
Plant in spring or fall, root ball level with the soil.
Feeding
Compost in spring.
Pruning
Prune in late winter; it blooms on new wood. Cut back hard if it gets leggy.
Through the year
Late to leaf out in spring. Flowers July to August, red fruit into fall.
If something's off
Leaf drop in drought. The plant is toxic if eaten, so keep pets from chewing it.
Plays well with
Plant it with friends.
Why we stock it: A compact native for wet spots that pollinators love.
Grows wild in 31 states (USDA PLANTS records). About 24 native butterfly and moth species use Cephalanthus as a host (Narango et al. 2020).
That's everything we know about growing it. Thanks for reading.
Know someone with the right spot? Send them this.
Buttonbush Sugar Shack® 2.0from $75.99 · Arrives alive, or we replace it
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What to plant this week in your zone, every Sunday. New ways to plant and odd tricks that actually work.
Sunday's tip is written for your zone: what to plant this week, and a kit that fits.Set your zone and Sunday's tip gets specific: what to plant this week, and a kit that fits.
Patio pot kit
Balcony Brag
Forty square feet, big opinions.
4 plants · $165.92In a pot, any zone
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Deer-resistant border kit
Deer Can't Even
Everything in it tastes terrible to deer.
12 plants · $392.88Zones 5–8
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Office kit
The Desk Set
Three small plants, one desk.
3 plants · $45Indoors, any zone
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Drought garden kit
The Hot, Dry Bank
For the slope the hose doesn't reach.
14 plants · $554.86Zones 5–9
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Mailbox garden kit
The Mailbox Bed
Curb appeal in one afternoon.
8 plants · $159.92Zones 3–10
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Pollinator garden kit
The Pollinator Buffet
Open seating for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
14 plants · $424.86Zones 4–9
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Shade garden kit
Shade Layers
For the spot the sun forgot.
8 plants · $151.92Zones 3–9
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Edible kit · plant this fall
The Snack Garden
Pick it, eat it, walk away.
4 plants · $199.80Zones 5–10
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