Hi Angie--Buttonbush is perennial in my area, and I'm in zone 5, so I would think that it would be ok. Same thing with the spice bush--I don't know about the cassia because I haven't grown it. The bushes will look dead, but they will be alive in the roots. They should leaf out when spring comes. Both buttonbush and spicebush prefer/need damp spots too. If they're getting enough water, they are probably just getting their roots settled, and next year there should be more growth.

I don't know how fast these bushes grow, but I would expect them to grow fairly slowly (when compared with plants).

Take care!

Even cold hardy plants can suffer in the south if not properly hardened off by mild temperatures. A cold snap that a shrub can survive with ease up north my be lethal down south because the plant may not be dormant. Regardless of dormant hardiness, plants are susceptible if they are actively growing. But I would too just wait and see, if you have the proper site (both like it pretty damp) you might see them return. Im not too optimistic on the spicebrush, your climate might be too warm and hot for it. But wait and see.

My buttonbush dies back every year and comes back from the root to grow and spread out more each year - it has multiple trunks that increase in number as it ages. With cassia, it depends on which type you have. My cassia bicapsularis plants die back varying amounts each winter - they usually retain some leaves along the bottom. They always come back vigorously, too.
I don't know about your spicebush - mine died back this past summer when I forgot to water it during a dry spell - they seem to need constant wetness and shade. I hope yours returns!
MissSherry

I live in Dallas, and have been trying to get a buttonbush locally and haven't found one yet. Also I'm interested in spicebush but haven't ever seen one at local nurseries either. Can anyone tell me where I might be able to purchase these plants in the DFW area?

bernergrrl, I just recently read (somewhere?) that buttonbush is fairly fast growing. Just thought I would share that info with you though no personal experience with the plant. I do think they are beautiful and have also read that over 25 species of birds use them as well, which I think is so cool to be providing for so many native wildlife species!

Thanks
Cass

Cass, I'd be shocked if you find buttonbush in any regular nursery/home improvement center, even in the DFW area. If there's a native plant nursery there, they might carry it, if not, then you'll have to order it from a mail-order nursery or propagate it yourself from cuttings or seed. My original plant came from a cutting I took from a roadside plant - since then, my bottonbush has grown big, so I took a cutting from it last year, rooted it, and planted it a few months ago. Buttonbush is real easy to root - I've never tried growing it from seed, so I can't advise you there.
{{gwi:449016}}
All butterflies and insects like it, but tiger swallowtails, bumble bees, and honey bees are especially fond of it.
MissSherry

Thanks MissSherry,

I actually requested free seed and will try to grow it from there. I'll keep looking for an established plant while trying to germinate it myself. That should be fun!

Thanks,
Cass

I was lucky last year got 3 nice ones off ebay.I should of left it in the pot but thought i would plant it in ground in hopes it would grow faster it did good then about nov it lost all its leafs and looks dead to me .If anyone find a place to get the plant please let me know were I want one so bad .

Here are two sources, Angie, but there are plenty of others - just Google "cephalanthus occidentalis" and you'll find others who carry it.
MissSherry

Here is a link that might be useful: Mail Order Natives

And here's the other one - the scientific name is cephalanthus occidentalis.
MissSherry

Here is a link that might be useful: Pine Ridge Gardens

Thx so much Im ganna order 2 and keep one in pot and plant other sure hope for the best .

I found a place to get button bushs and sweet almond verbena and its not to far from my house cant wait till wendsday .I been here before its a nice nursey very big.

Here is a link that might be useful: caldwellhort

Wow!! What a wonderful nursery, Angie! They even cater to butterflies.
It wouldn't do for me to live within driving distance of it - I'd buy everything in sight!
MissSherry

Thought I'd give this thread a bump to attract people who are unfamiliar with buttonbush. It is a great bush to attract butterflies and it is a US native alternative to butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii). It is also a host plant for regal and promethea moths, a huge plus in my book.

KC

Here is a link that might be useful: Common Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Thanks for the info. I didn't know that this plant was a host for regal and promethea moths. I will have to see if I can get some eggs and raise these species. I have a gorgeous BB that is getting bigger and fuller by the year.

Interesting discussion about Button Bush. Of course, now I would like a couple in our yarden too!

I found several in our park along the river, and MissSherry, you mentioned you grew yours from cuttings...

Can you say if that is easy to do? Any tips on that?

Thanks. f.

It was VERY easy to root, fairfield!
I just took a pail of water with me when I made the cutting so I could put it right into water, took a nice "heel piece" cutting about ?9" long, took off the bottom leaves only leaving a few at the top, nicked the places on the stems where the bottom leaves had grown to "wound" it a little, so it would make roots there, too, stuck it in wet soil, put it in a shady place, kept it wet, and it rooted SO quickly!
I keep hoping to find a caterpillar on mine, but so far, no luck. I had though I might find a rustic sphinx moth on it, since it's in the same family as gardenias (madder family) and rustic sphinxes use gardenias.
Oh well, when it's in bloom, it's a GREAT nectar plant - the only down side of it is it only has one big bloom in early summer - it makes sparse blooms off and on after that, but not enough to really draw the butterflies.
Sherry

Thanks for all the details on taking button bush cuttings, sherry. I am just learning how to take cuttings with milkweeds so I thought maybe buttonbush would be another good candidate. I would love to have a couple of them growing on our property.

I suppose there are a lot of other BF nectar plants that lend themselves to cutting propagation...?

One thing about some natives is that they take a long time to leaf out in the spring. Button bush is one of them, hibiscus another. So be patient.
-Elisabeth