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Heteromeles arbutifolia  (Lindl.) M. Roem.
Christmas berry,   Toyon
© 2015 James Gonsman
© 2017 Gary McDonald
© 2022 John Doyen
© 2020 Bryant Baker
© 2017 Gary McDonald
© 2024 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2018 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2019 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2019 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2021 Judy Schwartz
© 2017 Gary McDonald
© 2017 Gary McDonald
© 2017 Gary McDonald
© 2019 Bryant Baker
© 2025 Julie A. Kierstead
© 2020 Julia Markey
© 2020 Julie A. Kierstead
© 2020 Julie A. Kierstead
© 2020 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2020 Larry Jacobs
© 2024 Mary Ann Machi
© 2024 Mary Ann Machi
© 2024 Mary Ann Machi
© 2025 Julie A. Kierstead
© 2025 Julie A. Kierstead
© 2016 Camille Nowell
Heteromeles arbutifolia is a shrub that is native to California, and found only slightly beyond California borders.
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
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Bloom Period
Genus: Heteromeles
Family: Rosaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Toxicity: Do not eat the leaf of this plant.

Habitat: canyons, slopes

Communities: Chaparral

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS

Alternate Names:
JEFHeteromeles arbutifolia var. arbutifolia
JEFHeteromeles arbutifolia var. cerina
JEFHeteromeles arbutifolia var. macrocarpa
JEFHeteromeles salicifolia
POWOPhotinia arbutifolia
Information about  Heteromeles arbutifolia from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
This plant is available commercially.
Jepson eFlora

USDA PLANTS Profile (HEAR5)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

[Wikipedia] Phytochemistry: The plant has been used as a treatment for Alzheimer's by indigenous people of California and recent research has found a number of active compounds that are potentially beneficial to Alzheimer's treatment. These include icaricide compounds, which protect the blood-brain barrier and prevent infiltration of inflammatory cells into the brain. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2025. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 03/28/2025).