Really Toyon should be featured earlier in the year, but with the weather being what it has been I’ve been noticing beautiful Toyon in full fruit in the last few weeks. Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia is widespread in California in general and San Diego in particular. It’s a forgiving and useful landscape shrub with evergreen leathery leaves. It makes a good screening shrub, and can be pruned up to function like a small shade tree. Perfect for patios. Toyon is relatively fast growing and quite drought tolerant. It will grow happily in full sun to light shade. Pests and diseases are few although I have on occasion noticed thrips and bacterial black spots on the leaves, which are unsightly but not life threatening. Toyon flowers in summer with broad panicles of white flowers that bees and butterflies enjoy. Red berries begin to form anywhere from September through January and can be very showy. Hollywood is rumored to have gotten its name from the red holly-like berries of Toyon that grow on the hills above LA.