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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', 'Roseo Picta'
Tags:
#evergreen#specimen#shrub#white leaves#showy leaves#pink leaves#interesting leaves#red stems#variegated#tropical feel
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Key West'
  • 'Roseo Picta'
    5-7 feet tall, variegated green, pink, white foliage
'Key West', 'Roseo Picta'
Tags:
#evergreen#specimen#shrub#white leaves#showy leaves#pink leaves#interesting leaves#red stems#variegated#tropical feel
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Rounded
    Vase
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Inconspicuous small round fruits
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Description:
    Small greenish petal-less flowers occur in axillary clusters on long peduncles
  • 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
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Zig Zags
    Stem Description:
    Wiry red zig-zagging stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat
    Humidity