Shorter days and cooler temperatures are surefire signs that winter is coming. Luckily we have mild winters in Orange County, and it’s the perfect time of year to head outdoors to see the native plants that thrive in these conditions. An upcoming hike in the Buck Gully Reserve will bring you closer to winter flora such as Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) – also known as Christmas berry.
This large shrub can grow in average to over 15 feet tall, with white flowers in the spring and bright, red berries in winter. While not related to the true holly, the look of it is similar enough to be nicknamed California holly. In fact, Hollywood supposedly got its name from the abundance of toyon present in the area. Because of this resemblance, local residents once used toyon in holiday decorations. This led to over-picking the plant, so California outlawed harvesting wild toyon it in the 1920s.
This large shrub can grow in average to over 15 feet tall, with white flowers in the spring and bright, red berries in winter. While not related to the true holly, the look of it is similar enough to be nicknamed California holly. In fact, Hollywood supposedly got its name from the abundance of toyon present in the area. Because of this resemblance, local residents once used toyon in holiday decorations. This led to over-picking the plant, so California outlawed harvesting wild toyon it in the 1920s.
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