Breynia ‘Ironstone Range’

Breynia 'Ironstone Range' (Breynia disticha 'Ironstone Range') is an uncommon named selection of the snow bush, grown entirely for its variegated foliage. Small rounded leaves are marbled and mottled along fine wiry stems, so the shrub reads as a soft cloud of colour rather than a block of green. It settles at about 1.5m tall and only 1m wide, which makes it one of the few colourful shrubs narrow enough for a tight garden bed.

Why you'll love it

• Colour without flowers. The variegation carries the plant all year, so there is no waiting for a flowering season and no dead patch after it.
• Narrow where it counts. At 1.5m by 1m it fits a bed less than a metre deep, along a fence line or beside a path.
• Built for heat and humidity. It handles hot, sticky summers that scorch and spot many variegated shrubs.
• Low maintenance by nature. A trim once or twice a year is the whole job, and it responds to clipping with denser growth.

Where it works best

Low hedging and screening. Plant 80cm apart in a single row for a hedge that closes at about 1.5m. That spacing suits its narrow habit; wider gaps leave the row looking see through for far longer.

Borders and feature planting. The pale foliage lifts a bed of dark green tropical planting, and a single clipped specimen works well as a full stop at the end of a border.

Pots and courtyards. A pot 400mm or wider holds it near 1.2m and lets you move it under cover if your winters turn cold.

Growing Breynia in Australia

Position and climate. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate plant, and it is frost tender. Warm coastal gardens from Cairns to Sydney grow it outdoors year round, while Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and any frosting inland district need a sheltered wall or a pot that can be moved. Part shade to filtered sun gives the best foliage; harsh afternoon sun bleaches it.

Soil. Free draining soil with plenty of compost worked through. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Soak twice a week through summer and let the surface dry between drinks in winter. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring and again in summer keeps new growth coming, and new growth is where the colour is strongest.

Pruning. Tip prune in spring and again after the summer growth flush. It shoots readily from old wood, so a leggy plant can be cut back hard and will refurnish from the base.

What to expect when it arrives

Breynia 'Ironstone Range' is grown as tube stock. These are young, well rooted plants rather than instant hedges, which is what makes planting a whole row affordable. Expect two to three seasons to reach hedge height in a warm garden, and longer in cooler areas.

Some leaf drop in transit is normal for a thin leaved shrub and is not a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the variegated foliage range
• What every gardener should know about variegated plants
• Plants for subtropical gardens
• Compare other garden shrubs

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Eighty centimetres apart in a single row. Because the plant is naturally narrow, tighter spacing than usual is what produces a solid face rather than a row of separate shrubs.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender, and even a light frost damages the soft growth. In cold districts grow it in a pot and shift it under eaves or into a glasshouse for winter.

How do I keep the variegation strong?

Give it filtered light rather than full afternoon sun, and feed lightly through the warm months. Colour is carried by new growth, so regular tip pruning keeps fresh foliage coming.