Plant Care Common Buttonbush

Common Buttonbush

5.0 out of 5 (1 experiences)

Common Buttonbush has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves
Common Buttonbush has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily

About Common Buttonbush

Buttonbush is a deciduous shrub in the Rubiaceae (madder) family native to East Canada, Central America, Cuba, and the United States. It can grow up to 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide and needs moist to wet, rich soils in full to partial sun. It does well in swamps, streambanks, riverbanks, lakes and often in standing water up to 3 feet. Buttonbush has exceptional wildlife benefits.

Taxonomy

Cephalanthus occidentalis
Cephalanthus
Rubiaceae
Gentianales

Also known as

Buttonbush, Button-willow and Honey-bells

How to care for Common Buttonbush

💦 Water

How often to water your Common Buttonbush

Water needs for Common Buttonbush
0.5 cups
every 9

Common Buttonbush needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Common Buttonbush

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Common Buttonbush in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Common Buttonbush: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Common Buttonbush love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Common Buttonbush does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Common Buttonbush in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Common Buttonbush

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Common Buttonbush: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Common Buttonbush after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Common Buttonbush is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

Common Common Buttonbush Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Common Buttonbush prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Common Buttonbush Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Common Buttonbush requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Common Buttonbush is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Common Buttonbush is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.


🪴 Soil

Common Buttonbush does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

What Are Healthy Common Buttonbush Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Common Buttonbush should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Common Buttonbush will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Common Buttonbush Lifecycle →

Common Buttonbush Size Guide →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Common Buttonbush can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Common Buttonbush Hardiness Zones →


🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Common Buttonbush can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Common Buttonbush, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Common Buttonbush

Common Buttonbush

Common Buttonbush


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Common Buttonbush has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 1
Common Buttonbush has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 1
Common Buttonbush has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 1
@Risaree1957 avatar
@@Risaree1957
leaf-1 66 Plants
xp 4,188 XP
globe Tualatin, OR
05/21/2021

This plant is a succulent and came in bloom and as you can see, it’s flowers look like dandelions. But less fluffy. All the blooms are gone and the plant grows on. It’s planted in a ceramic pot with no drain hole and in succulent mix. I water carefully aware that too much water will certainly kill it.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor

Trending in your area

Similar to Common Buttonbush

Discover rare plants