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Autumn Leaves

'Dancing Peacock' Someone needs to write a song... :) With an atmospheric river and 30 mph winds predicted this past weekend, I was afraid the ginkgo, which had just started to turn color, would be stripped.  We were lucky though and it remains intact. Gingko 'Princeton Sentry' After the storm... The Black Tupelo (Nyssa slyvatica) changes color from the inside out - The above photo was taken last week. Here it is today - 'Wolf Eyes' Dogwood (Cornus kousa) has never had such pink color - Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea', Crape Myrtle 'Dynamite' ( Lagerstroemia ), and Persian Ironwood ( Parrotia persica ) - Japanese Maple 'Beni Hime' - Serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance' ( Amelanchier ) with tree peonies - Stewartia pyschocamellia starts the color show early. It has since faded to a much softer color - Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Buttonbush


The Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is an unusual shrub with curious white pincushion flowers. It is found in the wild all over the United States, usually in swamps and moist areas.  Growing up in rural Alabama, I remember seeing it in the woods behind our house. It doesn't garner much attention until the blooms make their appearance. 



Sources vary on the size of the plant. In the wild, it can get to 20 feet but in gardens, most likely under 12 ft. In my garden, it is about 4 feet tall after five years in the ground. It is located along the back fence in an area that doesn't get much supplemental water although I am working on the area and watering more often this year.

The flowers have a slight honey-like fragrance. Bees love this plant!





Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Kris PetersonAugust 8, 2022 at 12:33 PM

    Anything that the bees like is a winner in my book, although if it likes moist soil it won't find a home in my garden.

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  2. Hoover BooAugust 8, 2022 at 3:28 PM

    Interesting. It does have a quiet elegance to it.

    In California the common name is Buttonwillow and there's an unincorporated town along I-5 in the central valley so named--the buttonwillows all gone from the area, which is intensively farmed--cotton and other such crops.

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  3. AnonymousJune 17, 2023 at 7:09 AM

    I’ve planted mine in an area that regularly floods. Doesn’t seem to mind at all. This area is quite shady, and that may be why the plant is tree-forming itself, although it’s only about 3 ft tall. I actually like the bare legs, and I’ve seen mature buttonbush “trees” online that are very striking in winter. Mine is underplanted with juncus rush and a couple small sabal minor palms.

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