Itemshrub

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Photo of a buttonbush flower cluster. It is hanging down from a branch and is spherical. It has a solid looking center that is made of many small flowers, with a fringe of pistils extending beyond the flower petals.

Dublin Core

Title
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Buttonbush
Subject
Florida Native Plant
Description
Plant Size: 5-20 ft tall x 4-8 ft wide
Habitat: Marshes, swamps, river floodplains
Medicinal Uses: Practically all parts have had medical applications. The inner bark is said to have dental, ophthalmalic, and liver functions. The leaves are often made into tea for woman's medicine and for treatment of blood disorders and fevers.
Medicinal Preparation: Infusions
Contraindications: The bark cotaions cephalathin, a poison that can induce vomiting, paralysis, and convulsions. The foliage can be poisonous to livestock, pets, and humans.
Creator
Karen Greene
Contributor
Karen Greene
Identifier
RIFcob
Coverage
Throughout the state

Files

Photo of a buttonbush flower cluster. It is hanging down from a branch and is spherical. It has a solid looking center that is made of many small flowers, with a fringe of pistils extending beyond the flower petals.
Photo of a cluster of Buttonbush flower buds. The flowers are tightly closed and clustered together, forming a sphere.
Photo of buttonbush fruit on the end of a branch, with the background blurred. The fruit is a hard spherical ball made up of many tiny nuts.
Photo of buttonbush leaves and stems.

Collection

Plants

Tags

shrub

Citation

Karen Greene, “Cephalanthus occidentalis,” Rooted in Florida, accessed April 6, 2026, https://lis5472.cci.fsu.edu/sp26/group1/items/show/403.

Output Formats