Centratherum intermedium Brazilian Buttonflower1
Introduction
Brazilian buttonflower, a native of Brazil, is an herbaceous perennial that may attain a height of 6 to 18 inches. The olive to light green foliage of the Brazilian buttonflower has a fine texture and creates a soft texture along with the long-lasting, fluffy, button-like flowers appearing on the plant in the warm months. These 1-inch-wide flowers are a beautiful lavenderpink color.
General Information
Scientific name: Centratherum intermedium
Pronunciation: sen-TRATH-ur-um in-tur-MEE-dee-um
Common name(s): Brazilian buttonflower
Family: Unknown
Plant type: perennial; herbaceous
USDA hardiness zones: 9 through 11 (Fig. 1)
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: ground cover; edging; cascading down a wall
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant
Description
Height: .5 to 1 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Plant habit: spreading
Plant density: dense
Growth rate: fast
Texture: fine
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: serrate
Leaf shape: elliptic (oval)
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: deciduous
Leaf blade length: less than 2 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: lavender; pink
Flower characteristic: summer flowering; fall flowering
Fruit
Fruit shape: no fruit
Fruit length: no fruit
Fruit cover: no fruit
Fruit color: not applicable
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable
Current year stem/twig color: reddish
Current year stem/twig thickness: thin
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in full sun
Soil tolerances: acidic; sand; loam; clay
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: may self-seed each year
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
Use and Management
The Brazilian buttonflower is generally used as a ground cover and is lovely when massed. It is well suited for a rock garden.
The Brazilian buttonflower prefers a well-drained soil and a full sun to partial shade position in the landscape. It is drought tolerant but is killed if frozen.
Propagate by cuttings. It will readily reseed itself.
Pests and Diseases
No pests or diesease are of major concern.