ShrubsToyon (California Holly)
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Toyon (California Holly) (Heteromeles arbutifolia) is a medium-growing shrub, hardy in USDA zones 7-11, that matures to about 8-15 ft x 8-12 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with low water needs in well-drained and occasionally-dry soil. Expect white blooms in summer. It attracts birds, bees and pollinators, stands up well to drought and deer.
- USDA zones
- 7-11
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Water
- Low
- Mature size
- 8-15 ft x 8-12 ft
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Occasionally-dry
- Foliage
- Green
- Bloom color
- White
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Attracts
- Birds, Bees, Pollinators
- Tough against
- Drought, Deer
- Native to
- California
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Toyon (California Holly) is hardy to about 0°F (estimated from USDA zone 7), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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