Alderleaf Mountain Mahogany Cercocarpus montanus

Cercocarpus is Greek for 'tailed fruit', referring to the feathery fruit that are produced after flowering.   Mountain Mahogany is a native shrub or small tree in the rose family found in the western USA and northern Mexico along rocky hillsides, cliffs, open woods and mesas. It is found in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the great plains. It can reach heights of 20 feet but is often browsed by herbivores such as deer and elk, so generally stays around 3-8 feet tall. The showy, feathery seed heads are its most attractive feature.

With flowers that have a fragrance that is hardly detectable, when conditions are right, such as when good fall and summer moisture, this tree will put on a showy display of tiny red and yellow flowers.  When blooming in masses the fragrance can be strong and quite sweet. 

It prefers well-drained sandy to clay loams in full sun and is drought tolerant when established. Use this shrub on slopes for erosion control, borders or open woodland sites.

Its wood is strong and durable, but due to its twisted form, unsuitable for use as a building material.  Native Americans used the wood to make bows and spearheads.  It has also been used for tool handles.  Cut wood makes an excellent fuel source for campfires, and it's said that the leafy twigs helped to keep bedbugs away.  A reddish-brown dye can be made from the roots and bark that is used for dying baskets and leather.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious issues.