Button Bush Live Stakes - Cephalanthus occidentalis

If you’ve ever come across a shrub along a body of water with incredibly interesting round, ‘spiky’ flower clusters, it was almost certainly hardy Button Bush Live Stakes. Growing naturally all through North America, this native shrub has a distinct preference for the wettest landscapes. Found along lakes, rivers, marshes, and swamps, this wetland shrub produces robust root systems that work to stabilize even the most impossible of wet soil conditions. When planted as a live stake cutting, this shrub will quickly get to work providing necessary structure to the soil.

Plant Details - Button Bush Live Stakes

Family: Rubiaceae

Light Requirement: Full Sun - Partial Shade

Water Needs: High

Height: 6-12 ft.

Spread: 4-8 ft.

Growth Rate: Moderate - Fast

Bloom Time: Late Spring - Summer

Flower Color: White

Wildlife Value: Provides shelter and food for a variety of wildlife, attracts vital pollinators with distinct honey-scent

This shrub can grow quite tall in ideal conditions, creating a tree-like effect in the landscape. While its unique pincushion-shaped flower clusters are often the star of the show, the foliage on this plant is also eye-catching as it boasts a glossy, shiny texture. It can tolerate different levels of sun, but prefers to receive at least 6 hours a day. While it can handle some shade, this could reduce the amount of flower clusters produced in the spring and summer.

Landscape Uses and Maintenance - Button Bush Live Stakes

With a tolerance and preference for high moisture, it is necessary to plant Button Bush Live Stakes in a spot that receives continuous waterflow. This makes it ideal for rain gardens, along bodies of water, or any place in your landscape that struggles with waterlogging and flooding. The spots that benefit most from this shrub are known as riparian zones, which are sections of a landscape that transition from land to water that require reliable underground stabilization. When grown from live stakes, this shrub more effectively fulfills its role as a buffer plant for these riparian zones.

Noteworthy Characteristics

The globular, spiky-looking flower clusters on this shrub are completely unforgettable - you may detect their sweet honey fragrance before you even see them! Button Bush Live Stakes can be planted easily for any wet landscape project, beautifully fulfilling crucial ecological roles for decades to come.

This Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery

How to Grow and Care for Live Tree Stakes

Live tree stakes are cuttings from dormant hardwood trees that can be planted directly into the soil to root and grow into mature trees—an excellent method for erosion control, streambank stabilization, and natural habitat creation. Common species used for live staking include willow, dogwood, and cottonwood, all known for their ability to root quickly in moist environments.

To plant live tree stakes, choose a site with moist, well-drained soil and good sun exposure. Stakes should be 2–3 feet long and about ½–1 inch thick, with healthy bark and no signs of disease. Insert each stake into the ground with the cut (bottom) end down, leaving only the top 2–3 inches exposed above the soil. At least two-thirds of the stake should be buried to ensure strong root development.

Water well after planting, especially in dry conditions, and keep the area weed-free while the stake establishes. No fertilizer is needed. With the right conditions and proper planting, live tree stakes will root and grow into vigorous, self-sustaining trees that support the land and local ecosystem.

Shipping date depends on the date displayed and chosen when you order from the product's page.

We do not accept returned plants. If you purchased an extended warranty we do accept claims, please navigate to the warranty page for instructions HERE