Plant Care
›
Propagation
›
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Reviewed by Kiersten Rankel M.S.
QUICK ANSWER
Seeds give the most reliable results for Toyon and germinate in 6 to 10 weeks after a 2 to 3 month cold stratification. Softwood cuttings taken in late spring root in 8 to 12 weeks under a humidity dome but rooting is moderate at best.
Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late summer root over 12 to 16 weeks and tend to outperform softwood for this species.
Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late summer root over 12 to 16 weeks and tend to outperform softwood for this species.
Stay on top of plant care
Get seasonal reminders for watering and fertilizing, personalized for your plants.
Try Greg Free
Pick your method
Tap one to jump to the walkthrough.
From seed
Best for growing Toyon from local berries
Softwood cuttings
Best in late spring when new growth firms up
Semi-hardwood cuttings
Best in late summer for the highest rooting rates
From seed
Time
6–10 weeks
Level
Intermediate
Success rate
Moderate
You'll need
Ripe Toyon berries (bright red, late fall to winter)
Fine mesh strainer and bowl
Moist sand or vermiculite
Sealable plastic bag
4-inch pots with drainage holes
Seed starting mix
1
Collect ripe red berries
Pick fully red berries from a healthy plant in late fall or early winter. Each berry holds 2 to 4 seeds. Pulp left on the seed inhibits germination, so plan to clean them within a day or two of picking.
2
Clean and separate the seeds
Mash the berries gently in a bowl of water and rub the pulp off through a strainer. Float-test the seeds and discard any that float since those are usually empty. Air-dry the cleaned seeds on a paper towel for one day.
3
Cold stratify for 2 to 3 months
Mix the seeds with moist sand or vermiculite in a sealable bag. Refrigerate at 35 to 40 degrees F for 8 to 12 weeks. Toyon seeds will not germinate without this chill, so do not skip this step.
4
Sow in well-drained mix
Fill 4-inch pots with seed starting mix and sow seeds a quarter inch deep. Water gently and place in bright indirect light at 65 to 70 degrees F.
Toyon dislikes wet feet even at the seedling stage, so let the surface dry slightly between waterings.
Toyon dislikes wet feet even at the seedling stage, so let the surface dry slightly between waterings.
5
Wait for germination
Sprouts appear in 6 to 10 weeks. Germination is uneven and can stretch over several months. Be patient and keep the pots warm and lightly moist until the first true leaves emerge.
6
Pot up at 4 to 6 inches
When seedlings reach 4 to 6 inches with several true leaves, move them into 1-gallon pots with a fast-draining native or cactus-amended mix. Grow on outdoors in a protected spot for the first year before planting out.
WATCH FOR
Damping off where seedlings collapse at the soil line. This means the mix is too wet or air circulation is poor. Move pots to a brighter spot with airflow, water from the bottom only, and let the surface dry between waterings.
Softwood cuttings
Time
8–12 weeks
Level
Intermediate
Success rate
Moderate
You'll need
Sterile pruners or a sharp knife
Rooting hormone (recommended)
Perlite and peat mix (50/50)
4-inch pots with drainage holes
Clear plastic dome or bag
Bright indirect light spot
1
Take cuttings in late spring
Choose this year's new growth that has just started to firm up but still bends without snapping. Cut 4 to 6 inch tips in the morning when the plant is fully hydrated. Avoid flowering shoots since they root poorly.
2
Prep the cutting
Strip leaves from the bottom half of each cutting and pinch off any soft tip growth. Make a clean cut just below a leaf node with sterile pruners. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone and tap off the excess.
3
Stick into a perlite peat mix
Fill 4-inch pots with a 50/50 perlite and peat mix and pre-moisten until water just drips from the bottom. Push each cutting in 1.5 to 2 inches deep. Firm the mix around the stem so it stands upright on its own.
4
Cover with a humidity dome
Place pots in bright indirect light at 65 to 75 degrees F and cover with a clear dome or loose bag. Vent the dome for 10 minutes daily to keep mold from forming.
Mist the foliage every few days only if leaves wilt, since constantly wet leaves invite rot.
Mist the foliage every few days only if leaves wilt, since constantly wet leaves invite rot.
5
Check for roots at 8 weeks
Give a gentle tug at 8 weeks. Resistance means roots have anchored. If the cutting slides out, push it back in and check again in 2 weeks. Toyon often roots unevenly, so do not give up early.
6
Pot up rooted cuttings
Once roots fill the cell, move each cutting into a 1-gallon pot with a fast-draining mix. Acclimate to outdoor conditions over 2 weeks before transplanting. Plant out in fall to take advantage of winter rains.
WATCH FOR
Black or mushy stems just above the soil line. This is stem rot from too much humidity or a wet medium. Pull affected cuttings, refresh the mix, and increase venting on the dome to dry the air around survivors.
Semi-hardwood cuttings
Time
12–16 weeks
Level
Intermediate
Success rate
Moderate
You'll need
Sterile pruners
Rooting hormone (recommended)
Coarse perlite and pumice mix
Deep nursery pots
Clear plastic dome or bag
Cool sheltered outdoor spot
1
Take cuttings in late summer
Choose this season's growth that has hardened to the point of bending without breaking and shows the start of bark formation. Cut 5 to 7 inch sections in the early morning. Wrap them in damp paper towel until you can stick them within a few hours.
2
Wound the base of each cutting
Strip leaves from the bottom half. Make a shallow vertical scrape on one side of the bottom inch with a sterile blade.
This wound exposes the cambium and helps Toyon callous and root from a wider area than a clean cut alone.
This wound exposes the cambium and helps Toyon callous and root from a wider area than a clean cut alone.
3
Apply rooting hormone
Dip the wounded base in rooting hormone powder and tap off excess. Toyon roots stubbornly without hormone, so this step matters more here than for many shrubs.
4
Stick into deep pots
Use a coarse mix of perlite and pumice in deep nursery pots so roots have room to extend downward. Push each cutting in 2 to 3 inches deep. Firm the mix and water once thoroughly to settle it.
5
Hold cool and humid through winter
Place pots in a sheltered outdoor spot with bright indirect light and cover with a dome. Toyon roots best at cool temperatures around 55 to 65 degrees F.
Vent the dome on warm days to keep mold off the foliage and check moisture weekly.
Vent the dome on warm days to keep mold off the foliage and check moisture weekly.
6
Pot up in early spring
Roots should be visible at the bottom of the pot by 12 to 16 weeks. Move rooted cuttings into 1-gallon pots and grow on through spring. Plant out in fall when winter rains arrive to give them their first dry summer with a strong root system.
WATCH FOR
Cuttings that drop all their leaves but still feel firm. This is leaf shed under stress, not failure. Leave them in place since Toyon often sets roots before pushing new leaves. Pull only if the stem turns soft or black.
Stay on top of plant care
Get seasonal reminders for watering and fertilizing, personalized for your plants.
Try Greg Free
About This Article
Kiersten Rankel M.S.
Botanical Data Lead at Greg · Plant Scientist
Editorial Process
Propagation methods verified against Heteromeles arbutifolia growth data from Greg's botanical database, cross-referenced with USDA hardiness zone data and published horticultural research.
2+ Greg users growing this plant
USDA hardiness zones 7b–10b
Citations:
UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County
UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County