Adina rubella — identification & habitat

Chinese buttonbush is a deciduous shrub native to China and Korea, with small white to pale pink flowers clustered into round heads. In the United States, it is occasionally grown in gardens.

Appearance

Growth form: This deciduous shrub grows about 5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) tall in gardens.
Leaves: Its small, glossy leaves line the branches.
Flowers: Creamy white to pale pink flowers form little pincushion-like balls.
Fruit: The small dry fruits stay clustered in rounded heads.

Look-alikes

buttonbushCephalanthus occidentalis

Both have white, round flower heads. Native buttonbush usually has much larger leaves, about 4–6 in (10–15 cm) long, while Chinese buttonbush leaves are about 1–2 in (2.5–5 cm) long.

Why they get mixed upBoth grow by water and have round flower heads.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: rain gardens
streamside plantings
Range: It is native to East Asia; in the U.S., you are more likely to see it in a cultivated landscape than in the wild.
Preferred conditions: In North Carolina gardens, it grows in sun to part shade and tolerates damp soil.

Growing it

Care: For gardens in 6–9, choose a moist planting site.

Name and classification

About the name: Chinese buttonbush is also called glossy adina.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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