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 Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 5-6 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 5 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Summer
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Fiber Optics® Buttonbush
- Botanical Name
- CEPHALANTHUS OCCIDENTALIS 'FIBER OPTICS'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
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.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased 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.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!