Breynia disticha
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- BREE-nee-uh DIS-tik-uh
- Description
-
Snowbush is a perennial shrub of tropical Pacific Islands with interesting variegated foliage and red stems. In its native habitat, it is often used in hedges. It grows 2-4 feet tall and wide with a rounded to vase shape. Cultivars exist with pink and white mottling on the leaves.
Snowbush does best in moist average to fertile soil in full sun to partial shade. In NC it can be used in a container as an accent in the garden or on the patio but needs to be brought indoors for the winter. Low humidity house conditions in the winter will cause leaf drop and greenhouses are best for overwintering.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Key West'
- 'Roseo Picta'
5-7 feet tall, variegated green, pink, white foliage
- 'Key West'
- 'Key West', 'Roseo Picta'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Key West'
- 'Roseo Picta'
5-7 feet tall, variegated green, pink, white foliage
- 'Key West'
- 'Key West', 'Roseo Picta'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Breynia
- Species:
- disticha
- Family:
- Phyllanthaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Pacific Islands
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Vase
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Inconspicuous small round fruits
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Description:
- Small greenish petal-less flowers occur in axillary clusters on long peduncles
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1-2 inch ovate leaves with white, green and pink mottling
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Wiry red zig-zagging stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
