This Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ publication is part of a series originally written by Edward F. Gilman. Visit https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/ to learn more about creating and maintaining attractive landscapes that protect Florida's water resources and environment.
Introduction
Brazilian buttonflower (Centratherum punctatum) is an herbaceous perennial that is native to Central and South America, Australia, and parts of Asia. This plant has a spreading growth habit, and may reach a height of 1 to 2 feet and spread up to 2 to 4 feet (Figure 1). 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. The elliptical foliage is coarsely toothed and has a light fragrance. Brazilian buttonflower is in the Asteraceae family, and has notable 1-inch-wide lavender to pink button-like flowers (Figure 3). This species blooms summer through fall, but may bloom throughout the year in tropical climates. It is grown as a perennial plant in warmer growing zones, but treated as an annual plant in northern zones where the plant freezes to the ground as it will not resprout. This plant will reseed and sprout the following spring. This plant is well suited as a groundcover or cascades nicely down a wall, due to its sprawling growth form. It also attracts pollinators with its prolific purple flowers.
Credit: © pavlaki1968, some rights reserved (CC BY) via iNaturalist
Credit: © Matthew Borella, some rights reserved (CC BY) via iNaturalist
Credit: © Aditya Bari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) via iNaturalist
General Information
Scientific name: Centratherum punctatum
Previous name(s): Centratherum intermedium
Pronunciation: sen-TRATH-ur-um punk-TOT-toom
Common name(s): Brazilian buttonflower, bachelor’s button, larkdaisy
Family: Asteraceae
Plant type: perennial; herbaceous
USDA hardiness zones: 9 through 11 (Figures 4 and 5); may be planted as an annual in any hardiness zone
Credit: This map is based on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Visit https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ for specific zone information.
Credit: This map is based on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Visit https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ for specific zone information.
Planting month for zone 9: year-round
Planting month for zones 10 and 11: year-round
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: groundcover; edging; cascading down a wall; attracts butterflies
Availability: may have to go out of the region to find the plant
Description
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: 2 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; fragrant
Leaf blade length: 2 to 3 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: ovoid
Fruit length: less than 1 inch
Fruit cover: dry or hard
Fruit color: brown
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
Invasive potential: may self-seed each year
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
Use and Management
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. This plant generally reseeds itself in the landscape and will resprout the following spring. This plant is a tender perennial but treated as an annual in frost-prone locations. Propagation is by cuttings or seed.
Design Considerations
With its continuous lavender button blooms and finely textured foliage, Brazilian buttonflower excels as a flowering groundcover or textural filler. Its mounding, sprawling habit is perfect for massing at the front of borders, tucking into rock gardens, or spilling over the edge of containers. It is also an excellent addition to a pollinator garden.
For effective pairings, choose sun-loving companions that offer contrast. Try Coreopsis or Gaillardia for a pop of yellow-orange; taller spires like Salvia for vertical interest; airy grasses such as pink muhly for movement; and silver or chartreuse foliage like dusty miller or sweet potato vine to make the purple blooms stand out.
Pests and Diseases
No pests or diseases of major concern.