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Crimson Comet Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis 'SMCBM'

American Beauties®
$7975
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Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: For the most vibrant red color and abundant "comet" blooms, plant in full sun for at least six hours daily. While it handles partial shade well, you may see fewer flowers and slightly more open growth.
  • Soil: This shrub thrives in moist to wet soils and is a perfect solution for those "soggy spots" where other plants struggle. If you have heavy clay, add compost to help with drainage, but don't worry about keeping it too wet.

Watering Requirements

During the first year, provide one inch of water per week to help the root system settle into its new home. Once established, Crimson Comet is remarkably resilient in wet areas but needs supplemental watering during summer dry spells to prevent leaf scorch. If the soil dries out completely, the plant may drop its leaves prematurely to protect itself from stress.

Pruning Tips

This variety blooms on "new wood," which means the flowers grow on the fresh stems produced during the current season. The best time to prune is in late winter or very early spring before new growth begins. Think of this like a rejuvenating haircut: cutting it back by about one third encourages a flush of vigorous new branches and a larger crop of honey-scented blooms.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring as the buds begin to swell to fuel the season's growth. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this encourages soft growth that won't have time to harden off before the first frost. This helps ensure the plant enters dormancy healthy and ready for winter.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6 Week of March 2nd
Zone 7-12 Week of February 23rd


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Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
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Showy Wildlife Crimson Comet Buttonbush

  • Excellent Flowering Display
  • White, Pom-Pom Blooms in Spring
  • Flowers Smell Like Honey
  • One of the Best Native Cultivars for Butterflies and Beneficial Pollinators
  • Fun Red Fruit Feeds Songbirds
  • Lush Foliage Provides Cover
  • Brilliant Red Fall Color
  • Thrives in Sun to Partial Shade
  • Great Screening Plant
  • Tolerates Wet Soil
  • Full Sun or Partial Shade
  • Can Be Kept in Large Containers for Many Years
  • Seldom Severely Damaged by Deer

How nice to rely on native shrubs in your garden design. Thoughtful choices are a boon for your local ecology, and modern cultivars deliver exceptional ornamental features.

A perfect example of this innovative trend is Crimson Comet Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis 'SMCBM'). This widely adaptable, bog tolerant shrub is truly an incredible native selection loaded with flowers and fruit for butterflies, bees and birds.

Start off your season with some of the cutest flowers you'll ever see. Spherical, honey-scented, spiky little globes cover the mid-toned foliage.

They deliver plenty of nectar for local pollinators. So much, in fact, you should consider planting Buttonbush near your annual Victory Gardens to pump up your yields!

Multi-stemmed, informal shrubs grow to a great height and can be kept shorter if needed. Simply take out a few of the tallest stems in early spring, trimming them right down to the ground.

This selection blooms on new growth, so you and the honey bees will have plenty on hand. In fact, you might sneak a few for unforgettable indoor cut flower arrangements.

Because Crimson Comet Buttonbush tolerates "wet feet'' in soil that stays damp, it is a great option for a planned Rain Garden. Use them in low-lying areas that are slow to dry out after rain, or near your downspout.

Like our plant experts say...choose the right plant for the right spot! Let Buttonbush grow into a showy screen at the back of a water feature.

Look closely and you'll spy hummingbirds...there to sip nectar from the spring blooms. Hummingbirds also eat their share of tiny "no see 'ums" that are enticed by the unusual flowers, too.

Lush growth gives birds lots of shelter. In fall, the blooms have morphed into showy, round red fruit. Each of these is simply loaded with seeds that native songbirds love to eat!

Even the foliage is pretty in fall! The lance-shaped leaves looked dipped in red rogue for welcome fall color.

Enliven your space with this top choice. Order Crimson Comet Buttonbush from our native shrub specialists today!

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