Research conducted and descriptions written by Burley Middle School 6th grade students in 2023 with minor editing by RCA staff.
The common name for buttonbush, or Cephalanthus occidentalis, is honeybell, and it can grow 6 to 8 feet wide and up to 15 feet tall. It has a brownish green stem, green leaves, and small white flowers that bloom in the summer. It lives in wetland areas with plenty of water, and especially thrives in peat moss soil. Button bushes help restore wetlands and create wildlife habitat, and prevent erosion from flooding. Native people sometimes used the button bushes for medicine. It has unique looking flowers, and it produces fruits that last into the winter, providing an important food source for animals like pollinators and birds.