Native Snowball Plant Care

Native Snowball (Seringia exastia) belongs to the Malvaceae family within the Seringia genus. Native Snowball is native to northern Western Australia.

Native Snowball displays a compact, bushy shrub growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Native Snowball produces showy, trumpet-shaped flowers in various colors.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Native Snowball every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Native Snowball thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Seringia exastia tolerates temperatures of 65–80°F. Native Snowball prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Native Snowball to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Native Snowball every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Native Snowball is suited to USDA Zone 13b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Native Snowball can spread to about 2 ft (0.6 m) and reach about 3 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Native Snowball while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Native Snowball is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Native Snowball can be propagated through softwood cuttings, air layering. Similar propagation techniques also apply to seringia adenolasia plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Native Snowball is susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Native Snowball grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13b. Native Snowball is native to northern Western Australia. In cooler regions, grow Native Snowball as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.