It has been a long while, but I remember the white berries didn't have any blue, and were larger in size and had a different flavor. If the white part was rubbed off (not easily done), or the berry opened (easier), the skin was not colored. There were blue berries that did form a whitish film, but they were obviously blue underneath. Bushes were consistent in which color berries they formed year after year. The largest plants always seemed to be of the dark-berried type, but that could have been a coincidence. My observations spanned many years, but I had no formal botanical education at that time. The area burned in several wildfires, and I have not revisited where the light colored berry bushes were seen. But since the discussion was continuing, I thought I'd add my recollections. If blackrab is willing to share a more detailed description of the location, it may be possible for me to check the plant she photographed during a future trip to San Diego County. Of course, the birds may have eaten them all or something, but throwing it out there as a possibility. I have a trip planned in 2 weeks, but I will have other people along, and don't know where the location of the plant is in conjunction to where I will be going.

Ah, Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus), duh! No wonder the leaves looked familiar... ----------------------- The leaves, flowers, and fruit of Turk's cap are edible. The flowers are edible, raw or cooked. I find them to be slightly sweet, and a little mucilaginous like its relative, okra. You can toss them into salads for gorgeous color, or add them to pancakes and stir fries (at the last moment before tossing and serving). The small fruit of Turk's cap, known as Mexican apples, are sweet and safe to eat, including the seeds within. The fruit is ripe when it's red-orange in color. Eat them quickly! Unlike the "apples" that they're named for, Turk's cap fruit doesn't last long after picking. They will also drop off and reseed happily if you let them. The fruit is high in Vitamin C. In addition to fresh eating, you can make herbal tea and preserves with Turk's cap fruit. ----------------------- Whether they are the size of marbles or pinballs, Mexican apples shrivel quickly due to their low water content and should be eaten or processed soon after harvest. ----------------------- I'll have to go back and sample some of the fruits, though!!!

Ah, Heterotheca subaxillaris (Camphorweed) confirmed by its mentholy aroma when rubbing its sticky leaves...thanks!

remove the plastic and add a proper mulch .. god did not intend you to warp the soil under your tree in plastic ... roots need air as much as water.. and plastic does not allow air movement ... and roots like to be cool.. not stay warm all night due to the black plastic retaining heat long into the night ... see link below .. note the part about not amending soil in a planting hole .. especially with anything that includes fert .. you might burn the stressed roots ... and then do not apply more fert on top.. for at least a month or two.. until the roots have settled down from the stresses of planting ... wait.. that might a pic when it is in the pot.. if so.. this plant was clearly overfertd in the pot.. so it didnt need anymore in the ground ... with a plant planted this march.. you are loving it too much ... just water properly for the next few months ... and quit trying to fix everything .. do no more harm ... ken https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub ps: note the bag says ... POTTING mix.. it does not say throw it in the hole mix ...