Birchleaf Mountainmahogany Cercocarpus montanus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ser-ko-KAR-pus mon-TAY-nus
- Description
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Mountain Mahogany is a native shrub or small tree in the rose family (Rosaceae) 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 at 5,000-8,000 feet elevation. It is deciduous to evergreen depending on where it is growing. The Genus name is Greek for 'tailed fruit', referring to the feathery fruit produced after flowering. Specific epithet means of mountains. The common name is regarding the color of the wood,
Mountain mahogany can reach 20 feet tall but is often browsed by deer and elk, keeping it around 3-8 feet tall. Plant in full sun in well-drained soils. It is drought tolerant once established.
The insignificant spring flowers start out red but open to white. The seedheads that follow are showy with plumes of feathery long white tails that can cover the plant.
Use this shrub on slopes for erosion control, borders or open woodland sites. It can be used as a hedge for a barrier or privacy in its native habitat. Not suitable for the eastern United States.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cercocarpus
- Species:
- montanus
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- 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.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western North America and northern Mexico
- Distribution:
- AZ , CA , CO , ID , KS , MT , NE , NM , NV , OK , OR , SD , TX , UT , WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Serves as a host plant for the Western sheepmoth and the Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak.
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Screening
- Textural
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gray/Silver
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a hard, cylindrical achene coated with silvery-white feathery tails
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small flowers are petalless but have fused sepals and occur in small clusters of 2-3 in the axils of branches. They start out red and change to white.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are simple, alternate, lanceolate to obovate. Margins can be entire or toothed. Up to 2 inches long and 1 inch across, the leaves are dark green and glabrous above and fuzzy silver underneath.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- The thin and smooth bark can be flecked with scales on older branches.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
