PlantFiles: Hawaiian Snowbush, Snow Bush, Snow-on-the-Mountain, Sweetpea Bush
Breynia disticha

I would really love more information on how to grow this as a houseplant, which is the only way up north. They are sold as houseplants here and they're lovely - great foliage and form. But they seem to be really touchy regarding water. Any great hints on how to grow them as houseplants and have them do well?

We planted a few bushes about 5 years ago, not realizing just how invasive these were. Cutting them just made them bushier (albeit prettier too, but that is not the problem), freezes just put them to sleep.

Our four bushes to start with soon turned into too many to count, and no where near where the originals are. Colors are gorgeous, but cannot stand the invasiveness.

The "worms" are the Snowbush Catapillar/Spanworm or Melanchroia chephise, which will then become the Snowbush Moth. From what i've read, the snowbush should bounce back quickly after the munching is done.

It is invasive, but I keep it under control, my problem today is hundreds of little gray & yellow worms that have eaten every leaf, I thought I had a frost problem until I saw the worms today. Anyone else have this problem?

Very likable bush appears quite delicate, however is anything but. It is a fast grower and will do so anywhere I put it. Seems to enjoy wet/dry sun/shade, whatever. I will agree that unless you stay on top of it then It will totally take over your garden. I have landscaping fabric around it. And now have suckers over 10 feet away. (Where the fabric ends)
But I would still plant it if I had it to do over again.

This plant is invasive in South Florida. Propagation is by seeds and roots. Seeds and roots will sprout year round. Has the ability to spread quickly in damp soils, mainly from roots. If roots are disturbed by garden equipment or are near the surface a plant will sprout. 16 Years age a neighbor of mine had a hedge near the fence, I had 12' of lawn with nothing but this plant. It grew faster then I could remove it. Finally gave up and just cut it as grass since grass could not compete. I will say that it made a pretty pink lawn. I moved to get away from it.

I saw this plant in a retail store and think it's just gorgeous. I finally found out what it was, got one, and brought it home to put indoors, as I originally saw it. Within a few days it began dropping what I believe are seeds (small and dirtlike bits) , all over the floor beneath it. Though I would love to keep it inside my bright window area, it's quite a messy plant to be indoors.

I purchased Breynia disticha at a local nursery several years ago against the recommendation of a nursery staff member. She said it was a tropical and wouldn't survive very long in our Zone 8a climate. It was too beautiful to resist, so I bought it, put it into a larger container and set it outside in full summer sun. We bring B. disticha indoors when it starts to get chilly, where it receives direct sunlight through low-E glass. It loses some of its leaves when brought indoors but is still a lovely color. This plant likes lots and lots of water year round!

I've had sucess with the Snowbush in central Florida.

Mine got to be 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide after 10 years in the shade in southern California (U.S.) It grew more like a small tree, rather then a bush, very woody. Now it is in a large pot, trimmed to 4 feet and doing fine in dappled shade.

Dick Strever

Great little shrubs.

A month ago I purchased a six inch potted plant featuring pink, green and pale cream colored leaves. Lovely to look at and seems reasonably sturdy. We have a lot of wind here and I moved it to a less sunny place, the cream colored leaves seem to be lessening. The instructions were to transfer to a larger pot if it wilts, but I transferred anyhow. Temp: warm days & nights. Day 68-95F, night60-70F.

So far, so good. In Petaluma, CA.

We have several bushes growing under a young oak tree in the front yard. These plants are pretty hardy, even after defoliation. Our plants were attacked by small black butterflies and the lavae ate all of the leaves. We didn't think that the plants would make it, but in a few weeks, they began showing new growth and they have recovered fully! Overall a sturdy little plant.

I see it around quite a bit used for hedges and as decorative foliage in many business parking lots and malls here on the Big Island of Hawaii. Very pretty when the flushings of pink appear on the new tips.

We have a small bush in our yard, makes a nice backdrop for some of our other colorful blooming plants.

A pretty plant but very invasive in south Florida; it spreads by runners. My neighbor had one on her side of the fence and I now have a hedge of it along the fence and as far as 15 feet away from the original plant and Ii have never planted one....

I have a beautiful Snow Bush in a pot and it is at least 4 feet tall. It is on the east side of the property with sun till late afternoon. Shoots come up from the roots and when it gets a little cooler and they are a little larger I will cut them off and transplant them.

I am having some problem with the leaves turning yellow; I think it may be from a lot of rain but then the leaves stop turning yellow for awhile and so I think I have solved the problem only to find them turning yellow again. I tried doses of iron but have not figured out if it has helped. I will continue to talk to it to see if it tells me what it wrong. (You know they say communication with the "doctor" is your best bet. haha)

I have three of these, bought at WalMart. I live in zone 9, New Port Richey, FL, and they get east exposure. Basically this is full sun almost all day until after 5 or so. This plant is doing extremely well in full sun. It has the speckling of pink burgundy and white at the top. It is very healthy.Has also grown very quickly within the last 2 months or so.

Have yet to see how they tolerate cold temperatures, but I will cover them if it gets too cold this winter. I want them to get taller as to block out a nosy neighbor's view, but am unsure whether to top them or trim the sides.

Grows well on east side of house in this very dry but temperate location. Doesn't mind wet feet but has trouble with cold (45 degrees) winter conditions when it tends to lose many leaves.
Grows easily from suckers in damp soil.

Plant grows beautifully here in Cocoa Beach.

I love this plant. Grows on the east side of my house in Miami with full sun in the a.m. Have tried growing from cuttings - even using root enhancing powders, but alas. If anyone has a tip for me, I would like to hear it. Lots of rain does not bother it. Makes a lovely hedge.

I planted a very small Snow Bush last November in New Port Richey, Florida. We had a freeze and I covered it with a pillow case. It is now huge and stands about five feet tall with equal width. It is beautiful. It must frequently drop "seeds" as all under it are new little plants. It is in moderate shade/sun and gets regular watering with the lawn. It is thriving. This winter season will really tell me how it tolerates the frosts when we get one.

Very showy shrub...Great for mass plantings, Dwarf Variegated for ground cover and the Rosea in decorative containers. Zone 9 protect under 20 degrees, may drop foliage but will return after winter.

A nice bush. I have several here growing in Clearwater, Florida (US)