Toyon, or “Christmas-berry,” one of the more distinctive shrubs of Southern California’s native chaparral plant community, is now flaunting clusters of red berries. Here in coastal San Diego, toyon ...

Toyon is a common tree in the hills around the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys and in the Angeles National Forest to the north. It’s found throughout the California chaparral regions. The leaves ...

Toyon, or “Christmas-berry,” one of the more distinctive shrubs of Southern California’s native chaparral plant community, are now flaunting clusters of bright red berries. In coastal San Diego, toyon ...

“Any plant that encourages bird life, supplies the bees with an unexcelled source of honey, gives food to man, furnishes tannin from its bark, protects arid slopes from erosion, paints the landscape ...

Scattered over the green hills and valleys of the winter landscape, in almost startling contrast to its quiet tones, are the rounded forms of the Christmas berry or toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), a ...

This past week, my dear friend Bob and I went to Griffith Park in search of a little bit of holiday magic in the hillsides. We were looking for bright red toyon. In the fall and winter, toyons produce ...

Note: This is the second in a three-part series on native plants that have proven successful on the author’s property along the Lindo Channel in Chico. The previous article discussed large trees; the ...

Q: Could you name some shrubs to brighten up my garden in the winter? Also, could I take decorative cuttings from them? A: We can all use some cheering up during the winter when the days are short and ...

Bloom season: White flowers in summer, red berries in winter. Exposure: Full sun to full shade. Pruning needs: Tolerates only light pruning or shaping. Water needs: Drought tolerant and fire resistant ...

Note: This is the second in a three-part series on native plants that have proven successful on the author’s property along the Lindo Channel in Chico. The previous article discussed large trees; the ...