Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Toyon.
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Pronounced het-er-oh-MEE-leez ar-byoo-tih-FOH-lee-uh
Also known as California Holly, California-holly, Christmasberry, Toyon
The Toyon is a beautiful evergreen shrub native to California that brings year round interest to the garden. It produces clusters of white flowers in summer followed by bright red berries that persist through winter. This hardy plant is a staple for local wildlife and fits perfectly in drought tolerant landscapes.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Evergreen shrub
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Indoor light
- Direct sun
- Water
- Every 14 to 30 days
- Mature size
- 15 to 25 feet
- Growth rate
- Medium
Care
Plant in well draining soil and provide plenty of sunlight to keep it happy. Watch for wilting during extreme heat, though it is quite drought tolerant once established. Prune lightly to maintain shape after the berries drop in late winter.
- Watering
- Water deeply during the first year, then allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
- Feeding
- Apply a balanced organic fertilizer once in early spring if the soil is poor.
- Pruning
- Prune in late winter to remove dead wood or to shape the shrub after the berries have fallen.
- Repotting
- Repot only if the plant is container grown and has become root bound.
- Soil
- Well draining rocky or sandy soil
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.0
Safety
- Pets
- The berries contain cyanogenic glycosides and can be toxic to pets if ingested in large quantities.
How to identify it
- Leathery dark green serrated leaves
- Clusters of small white flowers
- Bright red winter berries
- Stiff woody evergreen branches
Science
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Genus
- Heteromeles
- Order
- Rosales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Also in
Is your toyon looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.