Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Herbs
Origin
California
Mexico, Central America, South America
Types
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Number of Varieties
31
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Foot Hills, low mountains, Woodlands
shrublands, tropical grasslands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-1
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm50.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Orange Red
Green, Light Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
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 Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Does not require water in summer, Requires watering in the growing season
Requires a lot of watering, 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
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
-
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Solid Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial Diseases, Root Pathogen
Pest Free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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, Flies
Allergy
Acidic
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Erosion control
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Body Ache, Stomach pain
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Sauces
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier
Container, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
HETEROMELES arbutifolia
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
Common Name
Christmas Berry, California Holly
Mexican Tea
In Hindi
Toyon
Dysphania ambrosioides
In German
Toyon
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
In French
Toyon
Épazote
In Spanish
Toyon
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Greek
Toyon
Μεξικού τσάι
In Portuguese
Toyon
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Polish
Toyon
Komosa piżmowa
In Latin
Toyon
Dysphania ambrosioides
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Rosales
Caryophyllales
Family
Rosaceae
Chenopodiaceae
Genus
Heteromeles
Dysphania
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Maleae
Dysphanieae
Subfamily
Amygdaloideae
Chenopodioideae
Number of Species
630
1
27800
👆🏻