North Carolina Wildflowers

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Rubiaceae

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Durham Co., NC
7/2/2005

Common and statewide in NC (although uncommon in the mountains), Buttonbush is found along creeks, reservoirs, ditches, and other wet habitats. This is a favorite nectar source for many butterflies.
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Durham Co., NC
7/2/2005
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Orange Co., NC
7 Sep 2011

Leaves are simple, opposite, entire, and often have reddish petioles.

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Orange Co., NC
7 Sep 2011

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Orange Co., NC
7 Sep 2011

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Orange Co., NC
7 Sep 2011

Small sapling in an often flooded swale in Duke Forest.


Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Common names from personal experience and supplemented by the following resources USDA plants website, Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and NatureServe.


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Created on May 7, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com