Looking for a shrub that’s fun, attracts butterflies and bees, and tolerates wet areas? Have I got a plant for you!

Name: Cephalanthus occidentalis aka Sugar Shack Buttonbush

Type of Plant: This is a shrub that’s native to North America. It tolerates wet areas, blooms in mid-summer, and the bees love the flowers.

 Why I Love/Hate this plant: Sugar Shack buttonbush is a rounded shrub that grows to about four feet tall and wide. I love the white spiky flowers that cover this plant in July, which are mildly fragrant. And I love how these flowers turn into reddish fruits later in the fall.

A Word to the Wise: I think that this is a great shrub to include in a mixed border, in front of taller plants. It’s effective with other moisture-loving plants such as winterberry holly and variegated red twig dogwood.

This plant flowers on new growth so you can prune it in the early spring.

You’ll see many bees, flies and butterflies on the buttonbush flowers. A pollinator favorite!

This shrub is in my rain garden with other plants that can tolerate occasional flooding and wet soils. It does just fine with a once-a-week watering in drought periods as well.

Ask about this shrub at your local garden center, or order it from Burpee or Proven Winners.