Heteromeles

( het - er - oh - MEE - leez )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly known as Toyon, Christmas Berry or California Holly, this evergreen species of shrub or tree likes full sun or partial shade and moderate water in the landscape. It will attract birds and butterflies to the garden, and is native to the California Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, and Baja California. It forms a dense shrub to 8-15 feet tall and wide, or a multitrunked tree to 20 feet tall. Dark green leaves have serrated margins. Small, white, mildly fragrant flowers appear in clusters in early summer followed in fall or winter by bright red berries that birds absolutely love. Take care when planting Toyon in the landscape, as unripe fruits and seeds are poisonous to humans and pets and should not be consumed.

Heteromeles Species and Varietals

The genus Heteromeles belongs to the plant family Rosaceae and is monotypic, its only species being Heteromeles arbutifolia. Toyon grows best in USDA hardiness zones 8-10 or Sunset growing zones 5-9 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map. Commonly grown cultivars and subspecies are listed and described below:

'Cerina'
With golden berries that follow flowers.

'Davis Gold'
This species of Toyon has golden-yellow berries; derived from 'Cerina'.

Heteromeles arbutifolia macrocarpa
With larger berries than the straight species.

'Vine Hill'
Vigorous growth.

Caring for Heteromeles

Take care when planting Toyon in the landscape, as unripe fruits and seeds are poisonous to humans and pets and should not be consumed. Plant Toyon in a space in the landscape that receives full sun to partial shade; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. They can take more shade when they are young. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.0 and 8.0 (acidic to slightly alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants are considered to be drought-tolerant, able to get by for much of the year on rainfall alone with supplemental waterings during extended periods of drought.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. If stems become leggy, they can be cut back to the base of the plant. To encourage a bushier habit overall, pinch branch tips as they are emerging. These shrubs can survive for centuries in their native landscapes, and have a moderate to rapid growth rate, reaching a mature size in just 3-5 years.

Propagation

Toyon can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Heteromeles by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Heteromeles by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seeds are contained within the red or golden fruiting bodies that are left behind once flowers fade. Remove the seeds from the flesh of the fruit, run them through a strainer to clean them, and set them out to dry on a paper towel.
Cold-stratify your seeds by placing them in moistened peat moss inside a sealable plastic bag, and put them in the refrigerator for three months. Once this period is over, remove them from the peat moss and set them aside until you are ready to work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.