Got this one this spring. So far the deer have left it alone. It is supposed to be borderline winter hardy here but I will probably put it in the greenhouse this winter.
It was not hardy for me in Beaufort and I was along a river, usually warmer than surrounding areas, a good 9a. The soil stayed around 55 degrees in the winter but it often stayed damp and being marshy it did not drain well. I had seen them growing on the Big Island in ares where the temp drops to high 30's - low 40's at night but they have outstanding drainage, the plants grow in finely ground lava and a constant breeze citculates air.
Keeping your plant in the greenhouse during the winter sounds good. They are beautiful shrubs.
Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open.
I knew that Hawaiian Snowbush (Breynia disticha) was hardy in Florida zone 9a because they were grown as landscape shrubs when we lived in the Daytona Beach area but I didn't realize they were hardy much north of there.
edited to add: You could leave it as a container plant and move it indoors to a protected location during the winter months.
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!
We are technically 9a here. East of I95 in very south east Georgia. I imagine it is borderline though. I plan to keep it in a pot this winter and keep it in the greenhouse and then make a decision next spring. Greenhouse will be packed this winter. Thanks everyone.
I really think the air temp might be fine as long as there is excellent drainage. My soil was just too cold and wet for the roots. I am loving this sandy soil at our new home.
Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open.
The soil here is pretty much sand. Technically our subdivision is a small island. I guess that qualifies as fast draining. It is a challenge when growing plants. I finally gave up on elephant ears due to the soil and the constant onslaught of armadillos. Sturdier plants seem to do better. I will try next year growing it outside. Assuming I can keep it alive this winter. Right now it is doing really well.
Lucky you! I lived on an island and there were sections that had sandy soil but that around my home was old marsh muck and very alkyline from thousands of years of decomposing oyster shells.
Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open.
Alice I live on the marsh but my soil is just poor quality sand. Everything has to have the soil amended. I would hate to even try walking around in the marsh with the muck and alligators.
That pluff mud is as dangerous as the gators, , a person could be stuck there forever.
We were on a salt marsh n SC so we rarely saw gators, usually in late summer they would venture into salt water to rinse the algae off their hide.
Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open.
That Snowbush grows like a weed in my garden, I'm zone 9b, I've never lost any from a freeze, they have frozen on the top leaves but they come back all the time. Neighbor down the street has a hedge of them, I think he cuts it back every year, gets more beautiful each time.
, a person could be stuck there forever. 
