Family: Apocynaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Wrightia antidysenterica, commonly known as snowflake or Arctic snow, is a small evergreen shrub or small tree native to Sri Lanka. It is widely cultivated throughout tropical and subtropical regions for its attractive ornamental qualities. The plant produces glossy, dark green leaves and abundant clusters of fragrant, pure white, pinwheel-shaped flowers that may bloom throughout much of the year in warm climates. Its compact growth habit and long flowering season make it a popular choice for hedges, foundation plantings, containers, and tropical gardens. In its native range, the species has also been used in traditional medicine, although it is primarily valued today as an ornamental landscape plant.

Risks & Threats
Wrightia antidysenterica is considered a low-risk species for Hawaiʻi. It has not demonstrated invasive behavior in the Hawaiian Islands or in other regions where it is commonly cultivated. The plant spreads slowly, produces relatively few seedlings, and is not known to aggressively invade natural habitats or displace native vegetation. As with any introduced species, responsible planting and proper garden maintenance are encouraged, but current evidence indicates that this attractive ornamental poses little threat to Hawaiʻi’s native ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Seeds, when produced, wind-dispersed
  
• Related species known to coppice and produce root suckers (may make control of naturalizing plants difficult)
  
• Lack of basic biological and ecological information, and limited knowledge outside native range, makes accurate risk prediction difficult

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of naturalization or invasiveness to date
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Palatable to goats and sheep
  
• Landscaping and ornamental value (with showy flowers)