Freshwater Wetlands/ Buttonbush

COMMON NAME: Buttonbush

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Honey Balls

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cephalantus occidentalis

FAMILY: Rubiaceae

COMMUNITY: Freshwater wetlands

STATUS: Native

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT: 3 to 20 feet

FLOWERING TIME: Early July to late August

FRUITING TIME: August to September

DISTRIBUTION: Statewide in NJ

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Leaves are opposite, pointed-oval, and entire ~ Flowers are white, round in a ball with strongly protruding stamens.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Native Americans chewed the bark of buttonbush for toothache and used a strong bark decoction (medicine prepared by boiling thick parts of a plant; ingested hot or cold) as medicine for dysentery and as an astringent wash for sore eyes.  The inner bark was an important emetic.  Tree and root barks were used as a tonic.  The root bark was also taken for hemorrhages and “enlarged muscles”.  A poultice (a soft, moist mass of plant parts wrapped and applied warm or hot to the skin) of warmed root was applied to the head for eye problems and a leaf decoction was taken for rheumatism.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.