Buttonbush vs Early Blue Violet - TreeTime.ca

Buttonbush vs Early Blue Violet

Viola adunca

Cephalanthus occidentalis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Early Blue Violet
Buttonbush

Early Blue Violet is a low-growing native perennial wildflower valued for its striking early-spring blooms. The flowers range in color from vibrant blue to deep violet, often marked with pale highlights and fine white hairs. They provide an important early nectar source for pollinators and serve as a host plant for several fritillary butterfly species.

It spreads by both seed and rhizomes, gradually forming small colonies. Its dark green, heart-shaped leaves add ornamental appeal, and the plant shows some resistance to deer browsing. Early Blue Violet is well-suited to naturalization projects and pollinator-friendly gardens, and has also been used in coastal butterfly habitat restoration in the Pacific Northwest.

Buttonbush is a moisture loving shrub that provides year round interest.

It has round, fragrant flowers resembling small buttons or pincushions. The flowers transform into small reddish-brown fruit that persists into winter while the leaves take on shades of red in fall.

Providing essential food to bees, butterflies, and other insects, this shrub is versatile. Try it in your next shrub border.

Early Blue Violet Quick Facts

Buttonbush Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 4a
Height: 0.1 m (0.3 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: long
Growth form: low growing, clump-forming
Spreading: seeds - medium, rhizomes - medium
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: medium

Toxicity: rhizomes, fruit, seed poisonous to humans

Flowers: purple to blue-violet
Flowers: large, white, spherical
Bloom time: mid spring to early summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, YT, NT
Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB
Other Names: dog violet, hookedspur violet, sand violet, western blue violet