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Definition of heteromeles

heteromeles

/ˌhɛt.ə.roʊˈmiː.liːz/
het · er · o · me · les
Plural:heteromeles
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heteromeles Lexical Profile

• noun

1

North American A monotypic genus of evergreen shrubs in the rose family, consisting of a single species native to California and Baja California, prized for its bright red winter berries and drought tolerance.

Example

"The native plant nursery recommended adding heteromeles to the hillside garden to provide winter forage for local bird populations."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for heteromeles

• Rhymes for heteromeles

• Nearby Words

hesperantha
hesperis
hesperornis
heteromeles
heterotheca
hetian
heuchera

Word Origin & Etymology

From Ancient Greek 'héteros' (different) and 'mêlon' (apple), referring to its distinct, small, apple-like fruits (pomes) compared to related genera.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Heteromeles. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/heteromeles
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