Common button bush

Berzelia lanuginosa

Scientific name

This is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 2 m high. It has slender branches and a spreading or upright habit. The small, narrow leaves are closely arranged in whorls up the stem. The flowers are usually clustered in terminal heads on short branches. The flower colour is creamy white to yellow, and flowers from June to November. After flowering, it has attractive, green to reddish seedheads, which stay on the shrub for a year or two.

Propagation instructions

By seed

Sow seed in autumn, dust seed with a fungicide to prevent pre- and post-emergence fungal infections. It responds well to smoke treatment and germination may take 6 to 8 weeks.

By cutting

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer to autumn and spring, in 50/50 rooting medium of milled bark and polystyrene. The plants should be treated with a rooting hormone and placed on heated benches with an overhead mist spray. Cuttings are not as successful as seed.