Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Tender Perennial
Origin
California
Southern Africa
Types
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Perennial
Number of Varieties
350
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Foot Hills, low mountains, Woodlands
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-108-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
10-8
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm61.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Orange Red
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Does not require water in summer, Requires watering in the growing season
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
-
Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Solid Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial Diseases, Root Pathogen
Nematodes, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Acidic
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Erosion control
Ethnobotanic
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Body Ache, Stomach pain
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Root
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Sauces
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
HETEROMELES arbutifolia
DIETES bicolor
Common Name
Christmas Berry, California Holly
African iris, Fortnight lily
In Hindi
Toyon
African Iris
In German
Toyon
Afrikanische Iris
In French
Toyon
African Iris
In Spanish
Toyon
Iris africano
In Greek
Toyon
Αφρικανική Iris
In Portuguese
Toyon
Iris africano
In Polish
Toyon
Afryki Iris
In Latin
Toyon
African Iris
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Rosales
Asparagales
Family
Rosaceae
Iridaceae
Genus
Heteromeles
Dietes
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Maleae
Irideae
Subfamily
Amygdaloideae
Iridoideae
Number of Species
6300
1
27800
👆🏻