Butterflies Love This Hardy Shrub (and Gardeners Do Too)

No matter how you feel about insects overall, pretty much everyone likes butterflies. Their wing patterns and colors are striking and there’s something so whimsical and uplifting about the way they flutter through the air. But they’re a lot more than just a treat to look at. Butterflies are also an indicator of a healthy ecosystem, so they should be a welcomed and encouraged visitor in your garden.

You can invite butterflies into your garden by planting the right flowers, and by providing the right habitat to keep them safe and supported in your yard. And if you’re looking for one plant that can both fill out your landscaping and make butterflies flock to your garden, there’s a shrub that pretty much all gardeners love and agree on: buttonbush.

Buttonbush Facts

Buttonbush is a deciduous shrub that’s native to most of the United States, aside from the Pacific Northwest and some western states. It’s known for its pincushion-like flowers, which are typically white (or sometimes pale pink), and bloom on the plant from June through September. Buttonbush loves wet conditions, so it’s great for rain gardens, swampy parts of your yard, or even just anywhere near a waterway or pond. While buttonbush is resilient, it’ll thrive best in full sun and in neutral to slightly acidic soil that is consistently moist.

Pruning is also an important part of buttonbush care, since it can become scraggly and irregular when left untrimmed. To keep the plant looking full and to maintain its shape, remove dead or damaged branches in late winter or early spring.

Buttonbush is a “true community builder in plant form,” says Shayla Owodunni, founder and chief biophilic designer at The Plant Penthouse.

Why Gardeners Love Buttonbush

While there are numerous plants that can attract pollinators to your garden, Janet Loughrey—gardener and garden photographer with Garden Design—says buttonbush is one of the best plants for butterflies. “The nectar-rich, fragrant flowers provide food for many types of butterflies, including Eastern swallowtail, Western swallowtail, painted ladies, monarch butterfly, and skippers,” she says.

It supports beneficial insects and wildlife

But the plant doesn’t stop at attracting butterflies. Loughrey adds that buttonbush attracts and supports a wide range of beneficial insects, as well as songbirds and other wildlife. “It’s also a host plant for wood nymphs, common buckeye, and several kinds of moths,” she says. Shayla Owodunni, founder and chief biophilic designer at The Plant Penthouse, calls buttonbush a “true community builder in plant form.”

It thrives in wet areas

Aside from its wildlife-friendly nature, buttonbush can also be a great solution for gardeners trying to find something to plant in those tricky, wet areas of their yards since it loves moisture, says Tammy Sons, plant expert and founder of TN Nursery. Anna Ohler, owner of Bright Lane Gardens, agrees, saying, “buttonbush is a must-have if you have wetter areas in your yard.”

It adds visual interest to any garden

With its tall, rounded form, decorated with glossy green leaves and globe-like flowers, Buttonbush looks great, too. “I love it not just for the butterflies it brings in, but for the architectural structure it adds to the garden,” Ohler says. “It’s a great way to bring texture and visual interest to rain gardens or pond edges.”

“Playful yet architectural, buttonbush is an all-around showstopper in moist or rain garden areas,” adds Owodunni.

It benefits the ecosystem

Another attribute that shouldn’t be overlooked, Ohler says, is that buttonbush is a native plant that’s greatly beneficial to the ecosystem at large. “Planting natives like these helps replace invasive species that disrupt local ecosystems and displace the plants butterflies and other pollinators truly depend on,” she says. “It’s not just about attracting a few butterflies, it’s about rebuilding a functioning habitat, right in your own yard.”