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Christmas Berry Flower Wikimedia Commons
Rosaceae

Christmas Berry Flower

Heteromeles arbutifolia

Celebration and cheer.

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Heteromeles
Native to
California, Baja California
Bloom season
Summer
Type
shrub
Height
10-25 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
well-drained, adaptable
Water
low
Hardiness
8-11
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Hollywood was named after this plant, as the hills were covered in toyon bushes with bright red berries resembling holly.
  • The bright red berries ripen in December, making them a natural Christmas decoration in California.
  • Native Americans roasted the berries to improve their flavor and used them as a food source.
  • It is the only species in its genus, making it a unique member of the rose family.
  • After a 1920s law banned collecting toyon berries from public lands, people began using the related English holly instead.

Color meanings

0

celebration

1

festivity

2

native pride

Uses

  • native landscaping
  • wildlife habitat
  • erosion control