toyon

American  

[toi-on, -ohn] / ˈtɔɪ ɒn, -oʊn /

1. an evergreen, rosaceous shrub or small tree, Heteromeles arbutifolia (orPhotinia arbutifolia ), of California and northern Mexico, having clusters of small, white flowers and bright red berries.

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Etymology

Origin of toyon

1840–50, variant of tollon < Mexican Spanish tollón

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

toyon

“I love seeing the deep, rich green of the toyon next to the pale green of the sage, dudleyas, sagebrush and the olive tree,” Smee says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026

Nicole recommended California live oak and toyon, and even some non-natives, including bird of paradise.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2025

“The garden goes dormant in the summer but doesn’t die. Drought-tolerant plants are survivors. The sugar bush, toyon, manzanita, coffee berry, ceanothus and hummingbird sage hold their vivid green color year-round,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2024

That’s part of what grabbed me about toyon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2023

Silently I left the toyon bushes and ran without stopping until I reached the mesa.

From "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell