Buttonbush Leafminer

Buttonbush has become a favored native in Ohio landscapes. However, observations in southwest Ohio have revealed a native moth that produces leafmining and shoot-boring damage. The shoot symptoms mimic freeze/frost damage.

Buttonbush is highly tolerant of poorly drained soils and is commonly found in Ohio, thriving in wetlands and at the edge of ponds. However, it does not do well at the dry end of the soil moisture spectrum. It may also be attacked by sawflies and leafminers.