Requires full sun to partial shade, and medium to wet soils. It can tolerate flood conditions and shallow standing water for short periods of time. It does not do well in dry soils. Since it is tolerant of very wet soils, it is an ideal candidate for a rain garden or wetland restoration project. Grows up to 12' tall and 8' wide. A very showy shrub!

- Prairie Moon Nursery

Its tiny white flowers bloom all summer and are attractive to many different bee and butterfly species, including the swallowtail butterfly. Fruiting heads appear throughout the winter and are consumed by many waterfowl and shorebirds. Although the flowers and seeds are consumed, the foliage is poisonous to livestock and other animals.  

- Prairie Moon Nursery

Look at that crazy inflorescence - I love the “buttons”! A perfect sphere of florets with the anthers protruding beyond the petals, it looks like floral fireworks. I also love that the seeds of this shrub feed water fowl from fall into winter. It just highlights the special relationships that have developed over time between our native flora and fauna and why we should all include more native plants in our landscapes!