Adina rubella

Description

Adina rubella,commonly known as Chinese buttonbush,is a deciduous shrub of the madder family that typically grows to 5-10’ tall with an upright spreading habit.This shrub is native to wet sites along streams,rivers,and sandy beaches in southern China and Korea.It features elliptic to oblong glossy green leaves with reddish margins and long-stalked spike-like spherical pin-cushion-like flower heads (to 3/ 4” diameter) of creamy white (sometimes pink-tinged) flowers that bloom from spring through summer (sometimes to October).Flowers have a mild fragrance.This shrub is a similar but more compact version of the North American buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis).Showy flowers are followed by showy seed heads.