| Common Name |
Toyon, Christmasberry, California Holly |
| Latin Name |
Heteromeles arbutifolia |
| Family |
Rosaceae |
| Sunset zones / USDA zones |
5-9, 14-24 / 7-11 |
| Type / Form |
Shrub / Large |
| Native Habitat |
Dry slopes of mountains of California. from 1,000 to
5,000 feet |
| Soil |
Dry to moist, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam,
limestone, low to some organic content, well drained |
| Exposure |
Full sun |
| Water |
Once to twice per month depending on soil in hot weather |
| Height X Width |
To 8 feet X 5 feet , 25' tall unusual |
| Protective Mechanism |
None |
| Leaves |
Evergreen, leaves oblong 2 to four inches |
| Flowers |
Showy,
spike-like, many branched, terminal cluster of small (1/4 inch) white
flowers, appearing in late spring and early summer |
| Bark / Roots |
Bark smooth, reddish gray with small lenticels.
Twigs slender,
yellow-green to reddish brown to gray, initially quite hairy, but later
becoming smooth. |
| Maintenance |
Little |
| Propagation |
Seeds, but slow |
| Pests and Diseases |
Fire blight |
| Landscape uses |
Erosino control, windbreak, ground cover, espalier,
barrier, low maintenance, fire retardant, hedge, background |
| Garden Suitability |
Thornless, Songbird, Fire Retardant, Ethnobotanical |
| Ornamental Value |
Small white flowers late spring to early summer, beautiful red fruit in clusters
later, cold marginal |
| Nature Value |
Fruit eaten by birds and mammals |
| Native American Uses |
Fruit eaten |
| Links |
|
| Images and data |
http://www.californiagardens.com/Plant_Pages/heteromeles_arbutifolia.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.wildscaping.com/plants/plantprofiles/Heteromeles_Toyon.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROLOGY/Syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=517 |
| Images and data |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteromeles |
| Images and data |
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=4140 |
| Images and data |
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=hear5 |
| Images and data |
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/58417/ |
| Images and data |
http://www.coestatepark.com/heteromeles_arbutifolia.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Heteromeles_arbutifolia |
| Images and data |
http://www.smmtc.org/plantofthemonth/plant_of_the_month_200512_Toyon.htm |
| Data |
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/hetarb/all.html |
| Nursery, images and data |
http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/339.htm |
| Nursery, images and data |
http://www.cnplx.info/nplx/species?taxon=Heteromeles+arbutifolia |
| Nursery, images and data |
http://www.sanmarcosgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=832 |
| Nursery, images and data |
Oak Hills Nursery, 13874 Ranchero Road, Oak Hills, 92345,
760-947-6261 |
| Distribution map |
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HEAR5 |
| |
Note: Considered fire retardant |
