Gwinnett County Master Gardeners Association
Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • Membership
  • My Calendar
  • Officers
  • Contact Us
  • Donations
  • Members Only
Menu

Bottlebrush Buckeye – What’s Blooming Now

Posted on by

Bottlebrush Buckeye is a glorious native shrub for the landscape. They are stunning in flower, particularly when used in mass or on a tall bank. Blooming in that gap period between the spring flush and the fall asters bottlebrush helps fill the need for a food source for pollinators during the hot summer months when there are fewer plants in flower. Right now, these shrubs are abuzz with bees; you might also see butterflies, particularly eastern swallowtails, and if you are observant enough, you might see a hummingbird darting among the flowers. The blossoms are creamy-white and look like candelabras that are 6 to 24” long panicles that start blooming from the bottom, gradually opening flowers until reaching the top.

This is a sun to part-shade plant for moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, but be prepared to give it room; it grows 6-10 feet and forms thickets that can grow as wide. Its native habitat is rich, moist woods and ravines. Bottlebrush buckeye can be used as shrubs in a hedgerow or as a specimen in the landscape. It is resistant to drought. It is deciduous, turning golden yellow in the fall—Hardy in zones 5 to 8.

A word of Caution! If eaten, all parts of this plant are highly poisonous to humans, cats, dogs, and horses. Toxicity depends on a person’s age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility. Children are most vulnerable because of their curiosity and small size. The deer bit off half of the first flower stalk on mine; that was the only taste they needed to know they didn’t want anymore and did not cause further damage.

I bought mine at the Georgia Perimeter College Plant Sale in Decatur. Last year their Fall sale was on November 27. Fall is a great time to plant shrubs and you support the college’s horticulture program, a win-win. There is an extensive list of native plant sources on this website: https://gnps.org/georgias-native-plants/sources-native-plants/

Related Images:

  • summer nectar
  • Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Categories

    • Current Events (18)
    • Educational Workshops (20)
    • Events (13)
    • Field Trips (24)
    • Garden Tour (16)
    • Gardening in Gwinnett (8)
    • GCMGA Information (49)
    • GCMGA Volunteer Projects (40)
    • Meetings (118)
    • Newsletters and Member Articles (107)
    • Photo Gallery (15)
    • Uncategorized (2)

    Contact Us

    Click here if you are interested in becoming a member or have a question about our association.

    Inquiries concerning this website can be made by e-mail.

    Find us on Facebook at Gwinnett Master Gardeners

    Recent Posts

    • July 2025 Meeting
    • June 2025 Meeting
    • Member Garden Tour 2025
    • April 2025 Meeting
    • Protected: CLOSED!!! Mosquito Bucket Workshop

    Located at Bethesda Senior Center at 225 Bethesda Church Rd, Lawrenceville, GA 30044


    View Larger Map
    ©2025 Gwinnett County Master Gardeners Association | Theme by SuperbThemes