Art by Audrey Carver • Arte por Audrey Carver.
My Kumeyaay name is
Mi nombre Kumiai es
Huushik
HEAR MY NAME
ESCUCHA MI NOMBRE
I'm also known as
También se me conoce como
Toyon
Toyón
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Learn more about me • Más información sobre mí
I am a shrub with strong branches and tough, waxy leaves that are sharp and toothed on the edges. In the summer, I have clusters of small, white flowers which smell floral and sweet. After flowering, I grow bunches of bright red berries. My berries are coveted by birds, coyotes, and bears. I have deep roots which help me find water even during droughts. I am resistant to slow, low-temperature fire, but I can also grow back up from my roots if I burn. These qualities make me resilient and persistent to change, and I can live a very long time, up to one or two hundred years!