Cephalanthus occidentalis (common buttonbush, "Amerikataniwatarinoki")

Japanese name: アメリカタニワタリノキ
Scientific name: Cephalanthus occidentalis

[Overview]
A deciduous shrub 1–3 m tall, found in its native range in damp places such as wetlands.
It sometimes reaches 5–6 m in height.
The leaves are simple, opposite or in whorls of 3, elliptic to ovate, 2.5–16 cm long and 2–6 cm wide, glossy on the upper surface, with entire margins.
They have petioles.
The leaves turn red in autumn.
From the leaf axils, peduncles 1.5–6 cm long extend and bear globose flower heads 1–4 cm across, made up of many densely packed flowers.
The flowers are white to yellowish white; the corolla is salverform with 4 lobes, and the lobe tips are rounded.
There are 4 stamens, about as long as the corolla, and the pistil protrudes far out of the flower with a club-shaped stigma.

[Uses]
Although poisonous, the bark and roots are used medicinally by Native Americans.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
It prefers a sunny place with good water retention; avoid strong direct sunlight and afternoon sun in summer, which cause dryness and leaf scorch.
In summer it is best moved to a cool place in partial shade.
It dislikes alkaline soil.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, so that it does not dry out too much.
Apply organic fertilizer in winter.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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