snowbush

shrub

Also known as: Breynia nivosa, Phyllanthus nivosus

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Snowbush is a Polynesian shrub (Breynia nivosa) belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. It is cultivated for its distinctive foliage, which features white and green mottling in certain horticultural varieties.1

While the term "snowbush" specifically refers to Breynia nivosa, the name "snowball bush" is also used for certain varieties of Viburnum. These Viburnum species are shrubs or small trees known for their ornamental value, often displaying fragrant white flowers and colourful berries. Examples include the Chinese snowball (V. macrocephalum variety sterile) and the Japanese snowball (V. plicatum), both recognized for their large, ball-shaped clusters of white to greenish-white flowers.2

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Phyllanthus
The delicately branched Polynesian shrub, snowbush (Breynia nivosa, formerly P. nivosus), is widely grown in the tropical gardens and as a greenhouse plant in the north for its gracefully slender branches and delicate green and white leaves (pink and red in B. nivosa, variety roseopicta).
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The delicately branched Polynesian shrub, snowbush (Breynia nivosa, formerly P. nivosus), is widely grown in the tropical gardens and as a greenhouse plant in the north for its gracefully slender branches and delicate green and white leaves (pink and red in B. nivosa, variety roseopicta).
Read More