Sugar Shack® Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘SMCOSS’ PP26543)

Category: Shrubs | Shrubs Under 5’ | Wildlife | Pollination | Bird Habitat | Moist Site | Wetland Site | Floodplain Site | Erosion Control

Sugar Shack® Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘SMCOSS’) is a compact cultivar of native Buttonbush, offering all the wildlife and pollinator benefits of the species in a smaller, landscape-friendly size. Reaching just 3–4 feet tall and wide, it’s an excellent choice for home landscapes, rain gardens, and smaller spaces where traditional Buttonbush may be too large.

In late spring, Sugar Shack® produces sweetly scented, spherical white flowers that are highly attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial insects. These blooms are followed by decorative red fruit in late summer, extending seasonal interest and providing food for wildlife!

Foliage emerges glossy red in spring, matures to green through summer, and finishes with rich burgundy fall color, making this a true three-season shrub! Sugar Shack® adapts well to a range of conditions but performs best in moist soils, making it especially well-suited for rain gardens, wetland edges, and low-lying sites.

NATIVE RANGE

This is a cultivar selection of the native Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis).

Map courtesy of USDA-NRCS Plants Database.