What is "christmasberry"

Christmasberry \Christmasberry\ n.

1. a spiny evergreen shrub of southeastern U. S. ( Lycium carolinianum) having spreading branches with usually blue or mauve flowers and red berries.

   Syn: Christmas berry, Lycium carolinianum.

2. an ornamental evergreen treelike shrub of US Pacific coast ( Photinia arbutifolia) having large white flowers and red berrylike fruits; often placed in genus Photinia.

   Syn: toyon, tollon, Christmas berry, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Photinia arbutifolia.

Christmasberry (Christmas berry, Christmas-berry) can refer to any one of several shrubs or small trees, as well as their colorful fruit:

• Ardisia crenata, native to Asia and Australia
• Crossopetalum ilicifolium
• Lycium carolinianum ( Carolina Desert-thorn, family Solanaceae), a boxthorn native to subtropical North America
• Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon or California Holly, family Rosaceae), native to southern California and northern Mexico
• Passerina ericoides, a South African shrub
• Photinia villosa
• Ruscus aculeatus cultivar 'Christmas Berry'
• Schinus terebinthifolius (Brazilian Pepper, family Anacardiaceae), native to South America but introduced and invasive in many tropical and subtropical areas