Cephalanthus

* Cephalanthus occidentalis is a deciduous shrub or small tree that averages 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) in height, but can reach 6 m (20 ft). * An easily grown plant, it prefers an open position in a moisture retentive or wet neutral to acid humus-rich soil.

In the meantime, I have temporarily healed it into one of the vegetable-garden beds , pot and all. It's unique, and even the seedpods are interesting. It's also the reason for the plant's common name.

Thankfully, there are many plant choices available for waterlogged soils, and many of them are native and/or very low-maintenance. One of the basic tenants of responsible gardening is to work with the conditions you have, rather than trying to change...

Not only appealing to humans, the caffeine in the shrub's nectar is enough to provoke pollinators like bees to visit its blossoms three times as frequently as those of other plants.

I use it in two different ways. There are many desirable plants that deer will tend to avoid. These are not effective because the deer simply get used to them. When they come to me upset that the deer have ravaged my 'thoughtful gifts', I cheer them up...