Toyon

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowering and berry production are usually best in sun.

Water

Low once established. Water deeply during establishment, then only occasionally during prolonged drought; avoid frequent summer irrigation.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, loamy or clay soil. Tolerates relatively poor soil, but not persistent waterlogging.

Height

10-15 ft (3-4.6 m), occasionally 25 ft (7.6 m)

Spread

8-15 ft (2.4-4.6 m)

Flowers

Clusters of small white flowers in late spring and summer, followed by red berries in autumn and winter.

Foliage

Evergreen. Dark green, leathery, oblong leaves with sharply toothed edges; foliage remains year-round.

Growth

Moderate; slower in dry conditions.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   3 ft (1 m)

3. After 2 years

   5 ft (1.5 m)

4. After 3 years

   7 ft (2 m)

5. After 5 years

   10 ft (3 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant in autumn in mild climates, or in spring where winter cold is a concern.
• Water deeply through the first two dry seasons, allowing the soil to dry partly between soakings.
• Keep established plants away from frequently watered lawns and beds.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Do not routinely fertilise; excessive feeding encourages soft growth.

Pruning. Prune lightly in late winter, removing dead, crossing or badly placed branches. To develop a small tree, remove lower branches gradually; avoid shearing, which spoils its natural form and reduces flowering and berries.

Late winter

Remove dead or crossing branches and make any light shaping cuts.

Spring

Refresh mulch and check that it does not touch the trunk.

Late spring

Check new shoots for aphids and signs of fire blight.

Summer

Water young plants deeply during dry spells; avoid frequent watering around established roots.

Autumn

Plant in mild climates while the soil is still warm and seasonal rain is approaching.

Winter

Leave berries for birds and check drainage after prolonged rain.

• Use as an informal evergreen screen along a spacious boundary.
• Combine with manzanitas and California lilacs in a dry, California-native planting.
• Train gradually as a multi-stemmed small tree to provide height without a dense canopy.
• Place behind grasses and low shrubs, where its dark foliage provides a backdrop and winter berries add colour.

Garden styles it suits: California native, Mediterranean, Wildlife garden, Low-maintenance, Desert / xeriscape and Winter interest.

Plant it with: California lilac, Manzanita, California coffeeberry, Deer grass, Cleveland sage and Western redbud.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other insects. Berries feed many birds, while the dense evergreen branches provide shelter and nesting cover.

• Fire blight can blacken flowers and shoots: remove affected growth well below visible damage during dry weather, disinfect tools between cuts and avoid high-nitrogen feeding.
• Root and crown rot can develop in wet soil: improve drainage, keep mulch off the trunk and reduce irrigation.
• Aphids may gather on tender shoots: wash off small colonies with water and encourage natural predators.
• Leaf spots are more likely in damp, crowded conditions: avoid overhead watering, improve airflow and remove heavily affected fallen leaves.

Leaves and seeds contain cyanogenic compounds; raw fruit can also contain them, particularly when unripe. Treat the plant as potentially toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses if eaten in sufficient quantity. Significant ingestion can cause serious poisoning; do not offer berries as food or allow livestock to browse it.

Where it spreads. Has naturalised in parts of southern Australia, including South Australia and Victoria. Birds can spread its seed into nearby vegetation; check local weed guidance before planting near bushland.

• English holly (Ilex aquifolium)

  Holly usually has broader, wavier leaves with large spines. Toyon has flatter, more elongated leaves with numerous smaller teeth and broad clusters of flowers and berries.

• Firethorn (Pyracantha spp.)

  Firethorn has conspicuous sharp thorns and generally smaller leaves. Toyon is thornless and develops larger, leathery leaves.

• Red-tip photinia (Photinia × fraseri)

  Red-tip photinia produces conspicuous bright red young leaves and generally larger, glossier foliage. Toyon's new growth is less vividly coloured, and its red winter fruit clusters are usually much more prominent.

The species name arbutifolia means 'Arbutus-leaved', referring to its resemblance to the leaves of a strawberry tree.

Propagation. Sow cleaned seed from ripe berries promptly; germination can be irregular. Semi-ripe cuttings taken in late summer are another option, but rooting can be slow and unreliable.

Accepted botanical name

Heteromeles arbutifolia

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states. Introduced in Hawaii.

Native range

California and Mexico Northwest.

Measured

Average height 518 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.