Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Are planning a Rain Garden and looking for a shrub that can go in zone 1 but isn’t the usual sedge or Red Twig Dogwood? Or do you need a shrub for a dry, partly shady area in a Woodland garden? Fiber Optic® Buttonbush is the perfect shrub for both spots! This profusely bloomer not only tolerates flooding and drought conditions, it has the grooviest sputnik shaped blooms that attract beneficial pollinators like mad.
Fiber Optic® is a cultivar of the native Cephalanthus occidentalis which can be found in the Midwest. The fragrance and long blooming of Fiber Optic® make it a great addition for attracting wildlife to the home garden. The compact, upright growth needs little maintenance and everything from the flowers to fruits and seeds are used by pollinators, Hummingbirds, song birds and Ducks. Deer resistant and not usually bothered by pests or diseases.
Fiber Optics® Buttonbush Care
Buttonbush likes to be planted in full sun, but will grow happily in a shadier area with soil on the dry side such as at the edges of a Woodland garden. Average soil that is moist and well drained suits this shrub perfectly. Buttonbush is able to stand periods of flooding and late spring wet soils without the roots rotting. Fertilizing is not generally recommended for native shrubs and perennials. Mulching with leaves or organic compost in the late summer will help the soil to improve over time to provide the right amount of nutrition for Buttonbush.
The upright and open form of Fiber Optic® Buttonbush looks best with not much pruning for shape. The only pruning that should be done is to assess winter damage early in the spring. Cutting back of diseased, dying, dead or diagonal branches.
Fiber Optics® Buttonbush Spacing
The overall height and width of Fiber Optic® is 5-6 feet, making it a medium sized shrub that is great for the mid layer of understory planting. The recommended spacing of 6 feet on center will provide this showy bloomer plenty of good air circulation.
Fiber Optics® Buttonbush Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9 |
| Plant Type: Bushes |
| Light Exposure: Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 5 - 6 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 5 - 6 Feet |
| Spacing: 5 - 6 Feet |
| Habit: Upright |
| Flower Color(s): White |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: |
| Foliage Type: Deciduous |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: |
| Seasonal Interest: Spring Flowering |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: Deer |
| Tolerates: Drought, Salt |
| Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Mass Planting, Specimen or Focal Point, Wetland Areas & Ponds, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Native to North America |
| Brand: First Editions Plants |
| Common Name: Fiber Optics® Buttonbush |
| Other Name(s): |
| Scientific Name: CEPHALANTHUS OCCIDENTALIS `FIBER OPTICS` |
- SKU:
- 1231010930-pc
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
All bushes, perennials & trees come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 24th |
| Zone 9 | March 31st |
| Zone 8 | April 7th |
| Zone 7 | April 14th |
| Zone 6b | April 21st |
| Zone 6a | April 28th |
| Zone 5b | May 5th |
| Zone 5a | May 12th |
| Zone 4 | May 19th |
| Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.