After about a month, I removed the bags and set them in a warm location. Gorgeous they were; accessible they were not. On Dec 7, 2004, CApoppy from Santa Cruz Mountains, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: I love toyon. Then, using exacto blades, I found the two tiny seeds contained in each berry. Looks good most of the year, can tolerate more water than most chaparral natives. Two years ago, after repeatedly trying to grow toyon from seed, I learned from the master, Tom Hayduk, formerly of the Mountains Restoration Trust (MRT), who taught me what to do. Toyon, which also calls my mountain its home, seemed to be the perfect answer. Our site uses cookies. I took it home to meet its vase. Plant toyon in full sun if you want a full, compact bush. The time had come for me to search my mountain for the perfect candidate to fill The Vase. On Nov 15, 2004, csm73 from Santa Rosa, CA wrote: I live in Oak Woodlands and am returning my soil to its natural state clay/rock(volcanic) and the natural soil fungi ae doing well. First, I soaked the berries for over a week. Once established, the plant doesn’t need water in summer. Flowers and vegetables had grown fat, sprawled and climbed beyond my wildest imagination. Hordes of small toyon were attempting to grow. The berries are great in the fall/winter and the blooms in summer are subtle yet creamy. I’ve always admired this remarkable plant and the survival fruit it provides during wintertime. They will look elegant by the light of the lantern hanging above the sink the next time the lights go out--which they will. Birds love the winter berries, and there pretty white flowers in spring. How do I access the article on Proagating Toyon? Toyon seeds in the wild break dormancy, or begin growing, in late fall and winter. The trio does a great job blocking the view pedestrians might otherwise have of our living room and this makes me love it even more. It was an important source of vitamin C, a survival fruit for native Californians, often added to high-protein oak acorn meal. The garlanded hillsides are enough for me during the holiday season. Bright red berries seemed to be dangling everywhere. It is a prominent component of the coastal sage scrub plant community, and is a part of drought-adapted chaparral and mixed oak woodland habitats. Thank you, Suzanne Guldimann, for reminding us to leave this beautiful plant to its natural course and purpose: providing food for wildlife. M'Online is the digital version of the Messenger Mountain News, both published and produced by Messenger Media Group, Inc. Website byDesign Like It Matters. I then put the seeds into sealed ziplock bags with soft soil and laid them on the cold floor of our garage. I love that it is still referred to by its native Ohlone and Tongva name. Armed with pruning shears, I cruised the mountain looking for some gorgeous, accessible toyon to judiciously prune. The flowers have a strong and unappealing scent though, so I would not recommend planting this too close to your house. Many people turn the berries to pulp, but I avoided this technique. But the platter would be elegant standing on edge at the back of a freshly painted kitchen shelf while it waited for next year's harvest. My search for it taught me a thing or two about toyon. As few neighbors have toyon (it is a bit straggly) I figure the seedlings come from my seeds - a success ratio of oh 1 in 3000. He seemed pleased and we laid the seedlings into flats. After ripping out a slope of ice plant a couple of years ago, Toyons were one of the first native plants to be restored. Propagating Toyon by Megan Williams is here: https://messengermountainnews.com/propagating-toyon/, Suzanne Guldimann’s original article on Toyon is here: https://messengermountainnews.com/toyon-decorates-the-canyon-with-festive-red-berries/. I don't stray past it into territory that belongs only to the mountain. Have grown a few Aloes from seed, and lost most--got lazy about attentive care when they were tiny and vulnerable. On Jul 5, 2009, Ficurinia from Portland, OR wrote: Here in Portland, Oregon it is a bit more rainy than California, but planted underneath a Doug fir in a dry sunny spot here in the city this plant has done really well. Your email address will not be published. Toyon Growing Conditions. My dream of an armful of foliage studded with brilliant berries merged into the reality of a single picturesque branch lying on the car seat beside me. A native to Argentina, pampas can grow as tall as 20 feet and 12 feet wide. Copyright © 2020 M'Online by Messenger Mountain News, a publication of Messenger Media Group, Inc. All rights Reserved. This had been home for last year's beautiful gift platter, sometimes loaded with fresh produce from the garden. So, "Hooray for 'Hollywood' Toyon!". Can be pruned to form a small tree. I had been seeing this plant growing along the road ... read more, I have literal swarms of honey bees yearly. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1909/. Armed with pruning shears, I cruised the mountain looking for some gorgeous, accessible toyon to judiciously prune. The ... read more, You said there would be turkey. Its other friends include a Ceanothus and an Arbutus and they do great where no one else seems to want to grow. But garden flowers to fill a grand vase were lacking at this time of year. Copyright ©2020. I've thrown some Hesperaloe seeds around, not ambitious/organized enough for a grow tent. Not sure which one you want. However, toyon grown in shady locations is a little leggy as it stretches toward the nearest sunlight. Each spring 3 or 4 new seedlings start up in 1/3 acre. Although its feather-like plumes are popular in floral arrangements, in many regions, pampas are considered a weed and are not available in nurseries. Add to My Plant List; Toyon is a beautiful perennial shrub native throughout the western part of California and the Sierra foothills. The introduction of shaggy toyon and sensuously elegant vase became a match made in heaven. They were there indeed, but on the wind swept ridge the toyon looked like Cinderella in ashes. Every day I had passed through tunnels of it on my journeys up and down our winding mountain road. The toyon volunteered from seeds dropped by birds and deer. Some survived and some didn’t but nature’s way is likely the best. After they grew a bit, I showed Hayduk the progress. I love to think that those plants are now planted around the Santa Monica Mountains or in restoration areas. All we see are empty ... read more, Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Davesgarden.com. It came as a Christmas gift from my stepdaughter who was inspired by our garden renovation last summer. The toyon has found its mate. I couldn't remember much toyon up there, but maybe I just hadn't been paying attention. At Topanga New Times Suzanne has also recently penned an article on propagating native plants, including toyon. On Mar 26, 2005, Chuck1260 from Arroyo Grande, CA wrote: Great shrub or small tree. I would watch migrating birds from my window, gorging themselves on the berries from old-growth plants on our property. Toyon or California Christmas Berry or Christmas Holly or Heteromeles arbutifolia, are beautiful shrubs are prized for their bright red berries and deep green leaves. Late winter ONE flock of migrating little birds will eliminate all of them each year. Call it a free packet of fertilizer with each seed. On Aug 4, 2005, YLcalif from Yorba Linda, CA wrote: This plant grows on very little water alongside Prickly Pear cactus in its native chaparral habitat above my property line. Call it a free packet of fertilizer with each seed. Once this plant is growing it is extremely hardy. Finally, after all of the work and trouble of propagating my favorite native plant, I noticed an area on our property underneath a large oak tree where the birds had taken care of all of that seed digestion. Each spring 3 or 4 new seedlings start up in 1/3 acre. I use ... read more, Our neighbors had peacocks when I was growing up. The toyon volunteered from seeds dropped by birds and deer. Gorgeous they were; accessible they were not. ... read moreToyon seems to have an affinity for growing to magnificent heights on slopes that define the word perpendicular. 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