J20151125-0008—Heteromeles arbutifolia

Heteromeles arbutifolia—toyon. A bumper crop of berries this year. I planted this toyon (or Christmas berry) on the hillside next to my house sometime in the mid-1990s and promptly forgot about it. About ten years ago I looked out my window and was amazed to see red berries I couldn't remember planting. The tree has continued to thrive and has spread by suckers. I have noticed seedlings growing on other parts of the hillside, undoubtedly dropped by birds. Pretty good for a tree I've been told won't grow in Berkeley, huh. Photographed in a private garden in Berkeley, CA.

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