Cephalanthus occidentalis

Although growing naturally in wetlands, buttonbush also makes an excellent subject for most sunny garden niches with any decent not-too-dry soil.  It's every bit the ornamental equal of the much more commonly cultivated Clethra alnifolia, offering handsome glossy foliage and summer spheres of fragrant white flowers that attract pollinators of all sorts (including hummingbirds).  It's also easier to fit into tight spaces -- a hard annual pruning in spring will result in smaller, denser plants.

Full sun to light shade; average to wet soil; 8'x8'; summer; RI native; Zone 3

Propagated from RI seed; deep 3.5-inch pots

Photo: Zbigniew Niepokój