Heteromeles arbutifolia
Toyon
Rosaceae
Evergreen, Shrubs, Trees, Decorative fruit or berries
Native to California Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, Baja California. Grows as a dense shrub 6 to 10 ft. tall and broad or a multitrunked small tree 15 to 25 ft. tall and spreading almost as wide (can be pruned to form a single-trunked tree). Thick, leathery, glossy dark green leaves are 2 to 4 in. long, edged with bristly, pointed teeth. Small white flowers in flattish clusters appear in summer; these are followed in fall to winter by pea-size bright red (rarely yellow) berries, much relished by birds. Flowers attract bees.
This holly-like plant, which bears its red berries in winter (like holly), is said by some to have given Hollywood its name. Others disagree.
Heteromeles arbutifolia macrocarpa, from Southern California’s Channel Islands, has larger berries.
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