I can't imagine this plant as a standard; IMO it's a plant for a more casual style garden. And how does one create an informal standard? If left to grow in a more natural form, it will be covered with Sputnik-style blooms in summer that are much loved by butterflies and other pollinators, and I have never seen it grown in any other fashion. If you restrict the growth, it sort of defeats the purpose, to my mind.

BTW, I though of you the other day when I saw someone who had trained their forsythia as standards - bright yellow, 2' diameter balls on top of leaning sticks. Bizarre looking.

Well, this is what it would like like, if one is into such a thing:

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/flowers/flower-plants/patio-plants/button-bush-standard/61542VM

I have 2 buttonbushes. One is 3 years old and the other is 2. The 3-year-old one had a few blooms last year, not many. I'm hoping for quite a few more this year.

The only trimming I have done is on a few wild and crazy branches, just to shape the bush up. It never occurred to me to try to make a standard.

"BTW, I though of you the other day when I saw someone who had trained their forsythia as standards - bright yellow, 2' diameter balls on top of leaning sticks. Bizarre looking."

Lol, mine is doing pretty well, I actually haven't sheared it, just trimmed back some long branches. Other than the standards, I can leave them to grow mostly unrestricted. The butterflies were a major reason I chose buttonbush over other shrubs, and I hope to see lots of them!

"Well, this is what it would like like, if one is into such a thing:"

Thanks. Glad to know I'm not crazy.

"The 3-year-old one had a few blooms last year, not many. I'm hoping for quite a few more this year."

Well, I guess this is just one thing that I will have to be patient for, but I feel like it will be worth it in the long run.

I've never seen a buttonbush but I've also never seen a standard with a head like that on a trunk that looks about as thick as a drinking straw!

I received from the Missouri State Conservation Dept.

==>> im thinking you have years to think about it.. as anything i got from a source such as this.. or from arborday .. lol ... are mere twigs ...

more leaves when young.. mean more energy produced.. means faster root growth.. which means faster to size ....

you cant go cutting up a tiny babe repeatedly when its small ... that would be called bonsai .. in essence ...

youre not thinking in tree time ...

ken

"The butterflies were a major reason I chose buttonbush over other shrubs, and I hope to see lots of them!"

I said it sort of defeats the purpose because if you remove all the branches for the first several feet, you've reduced the number of flowers dramatically.

"im thinking you have years to think about it.. as anything i got from a source such as this.. or from arborday .. lol ... are mere twigs ..."

Yes they are, covered in leaves Lol.

"I said it sort of defeats the purpose because if you remove all the branches for the first several feet, you've reduced the number of flowers dramatically."

Yes, I don't only have the standards, I have several others that I will just let grow into regular shrubs. The standards will be more of an experiment, and if they fail I can knock them down to several inches tall and move them, replacing them with a different upright shrub.

"The link to the Van Meuwen website shows one of their typically manipulated pictures. I wouldn't trust any images on their site. They get very poor reviews. Basically, I don't believe their 'standard' is a true depiction."

Thanks, I will remember this for future reference. I realized that it didn't look entirely realistic (with that trunk it would break way too easily).

Anna, that is a cool find! Never thought a buttonbush could be trained like that AND look kinda cool! I think that the shrub's foliage is really cool.. the flowers get all the attention but those glossy leaves are pretty... almost exotic looking.. I think the buttonbush is a must have for those of us who have wet areas (i certainly do!)... I am planting one this spring as a local native plant grower sells them for cheap. But, I certainly won't be trying to make it into a standard!! I have a pretty naturalistic setting in my yard, and want to keep it that way..

I'm in love with the picture of Cephlanthus on Wikipedia. Looks like it can handle heavy pruning...

link to the picture

Hello, guys! After a while of business and inactivity, I'm back. My buttonbush are doing very well, although, they certainly aren't yet large enough to flower!