Plant Aquarium: Toyon

The toyon hedge in our lower yard shields us from the sights and sounds of a busy street during rush hour, and is typically alive with bird sounds. It's spring and the blossoms are just getting started. Later the bushes will be filled with white flowers, followed by bright red berries.

 

H. arbutifolia with the start of new blossoms

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) is a common perennial shrub native to southwest Oregon, California, and Baja. It can be found in coastal sage scrub plant communities, the chaparral, and mixed oak woodlands. It is in the Rosaceae family, and is the only species in the Heteromeles genus.

Cluster of white toyon flowers in spring

The shrubs grow to 6-16 feet tall (2-5 meters), and can live from 100-200 years. The leaves are evergreen, alternate, and sharply toothed with short petioles. The flowers are small, white, and arranged in terminal clusters. The berries are bright red and festive during the fall and winter holidays.

Dense foliage and red toyon berries in fall

Toyon survives on very little water, and is less of a fire hazard than some chaparral plants. They are visited by butterflies, and the fruit is eaten by birds (mockingbirds, robins, cedar waxwings, and hermit thrushes) and even mammals. Native Americans used the leaves, bark, and berries for medicinal purposes, including Alzheimer's. We are visited by many birds in our yard, and the dense hedge provides them sanctuary.

Learn more:

• Wikipedia
• Jepson Herbarium
• U.S. Forest Service (search for Heteromeles arbutifolia)