Breynia spp.

snowbush

Phyllanthaceae Asia, Australia, and the Pacific

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Breynia spp. is a genus of about 30 to 35 species of shrubs and small trees in the family Phyllanthaceae, native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. The most familiar species in cultivation is B. disticha, the snowbush, grown for foliage mottled and margined in white and pink on arching reddish stems. Plants generally reach 3 to 10 feet (1 to 3 m) tall, with thin, alternate, oval leaves arranged in two flat ranks along the twigs. The flowers are tiny, greenish, and without petals, the male and female borne separately on the same plant, and are followed by small berry-like fruits. Many Breynia spp. species rely on a specialised mutualism with leafflower moths, which both pollinate the flowers and lay eggs whose larvae consume some of the seeds. Most species are frost-tender and grow in warm, frost-free climates in moist, well-drained soil. In cooler regions B. disticha is grown as a container or summer foliage plant and may drop its leaves in cold spells.

Native Range

Breynia spp. is native to tropical and subtropical Asia, northern and eastern Australia, and islands of the Pacific, growing in rainforest margins, open woodland, and disturbed ground. B. disticha originates in the southwestern Pacific.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a foliage shrub, informal hedge, and container or patio plant in warm climates, and as a summer container plant in cooler ones. The variegated snowbush is used for colour in mixed plantings and as a backdrop to flowers. Spacing of 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm) suits hedging.

How to Identify

Identify Breynia spp. by its slender twigs bearing two flat rows of thin, oval leaves, which gives the sprays a fern-like, flattened look. The flowers are minute and greenish without petals, and the fruit is a small rounded berry that ripens red to blackish. In B. disticha the leaves are heavily mottled with white and pink. The two-ranked leaves and tiny petalless flowers separate it from true Phyllanthus spp. relatives.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 10'

Width/Spread2' - 6'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

The tiny greenish flowers appear mainly in the warm months, spring through summer in subtropical climates and intermittently year-round in the tropics. They are easily overlooked and are pollinated chiefly by leafflower moths. Small berry-like fruits follow over several weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

greenish, inconspicuous

Foliage Description

green, mottled white and pink in some forms

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Breynia spp. grows in full sun to part shade in warm, frost-free climates on moist, well-drained soils with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Bright light deepens the white-and-pink variegation of B. disticha, while deep shade fades it to plain green. Even moisture suits active growth, though established plants tolerate short dry spells. The shrubs are frost-tender, so in cool regions they are grown in containers and moved under cover, or treated as summer foliage plants. A light feed in the growing season supports fresh, colourful new growth.

Pruning

Prune in spring to shape the plant and encourage dense new growth, which carries the brightest variegation. Tip-pinching through the season keeps container plants bushy. Cut out any all-green reverting shoots on variegated forms.