Cephalanthus occidentalis L.

Shrub 1–3 m, or even a small tree; lvs opposite or occasionally in whorls of 3, ovate-oblong or lance-oblong, 8–15 cm; stipules deltoid, 2–3 mm, glandular-dentate; heads 3 cm thick, on elongate peduncles terminating the stems or from the upper axils, the fls intermingled with filiform-clavate bractlets; cor white, 5–8 mm; fr obconic, angular, 5 mm; 2n=44. Swamps and streamsides; N.S., N.B. and Que. to Minn., s. to Mex. and W.I. June–Aug. Most of our plants are glabrous or inconspicuously hairy, and represent var. occidentalis. The chiefly southern var. pubescens Raf., with the twigs and lower lf-surfaces evidently soft-hairy, extends n. to Va., Ind. and Mo.

A lowland species, growing along the edges of streams, rivers, lakes, swamps and wet floodplains.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings.