Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Origin
California
Southern Africa, South Africa
Types
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Number of Varieties
325
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Foot Hills, low mountains, Woodlands
marshes, Sandy flats, Slopes
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-107-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
10-7
Sunset Zone
21,22
21,22
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm20.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm15.20 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Orange, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Orange Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Several shades of Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
-
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Winter, Late Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Bulbs, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Does not require water in summer, Requires watering in the growing season
Keep ground moist, Reduce watering in winter, Water three times weekly in summer
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
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
-
Prune to control growth, prune to control shape, Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Solid Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial Diseases, Root Pathogen
-
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Butterflies, Insects, pollinators
Allergy
Acidic
Skin irritation, Skin rash, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Beautification, Cut Flowers, Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Erosion control
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Body Ache, Stomach pain
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Flowers
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Sauces
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
HETEROMELES arbutifolia
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Common Name
Christmas Berry, California Holly
Chincherinchee, Wonder-flower, Star-of-Bethlehem
In Hindi
Toyon
Chincherinchee
In German
Toyon
Kap-Milchstern
In French
Toyon
Chincherinchee
In Spanish
Toyon
Chincherinchee
In Greek
Toyon
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
In Portuguese
Toyon
Chinkerinchee
In Polish
Toyon
Chincherinchee,
In Latin
Toyon
Chincherinchee
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Rosales
Asparagales
Family
Rosaceae
Asparagaceae
Genus
Heteromeles
Ornithogalum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Maleae
Ornithogaleae
Subfamily
Amygdaloideae
Scilloideae
Number of Species
6180
1
27800
👆🏻