Buttonbush Seeds Maturing
During the summer, Buttonbush’s one-and-a-half-inch-diameter, white flower balls can be spotted along shorelines and in wetlands. The fragrance of this shrub’s flowers attracts many pollinators, especially bumblebees and butterflies (their tongues are long enough to reach the deep nectaries). After pollination, the 200-plus flowers on each head of this member of the Coffee family produce small nutlets that are dispersed by water and consumed by waterfowl (particularly surface-feeding dabbling ducks), American Bitterns, rails and Northern Bobwhites. (photo: buttonbush seed head)
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Thanks, Mary, for all your delightful and informative posts. The information about the plant’s size, in today’s post, was most helpful. Identifying plants, and sometimes animals, is always easier with that information. I look forward to your photos and text each day!
September 18, 2015 at 9:00 am
Hi Mary! This wonderful native appeared near my little pond just this summer! I never knew it was in the coffee plant family, but it was a pleasant non-caffeinated surprise!
September 18, 2015 at 9:32 am
Another new one to me, will have to look for it!
September 18, 2015 at 11:52 am
Buttonbush never looked so good… beautiful picture!!!
September 18, 2015 at 12:03 pm