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Mountain Mahogany

Cercocarpus montanus

Other common name(s):

Alderleaf Mountain Mahogany, Silverleaf Mountain Mahogany

Family:

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau, Southwestern Tablelands
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Edwards Plateau Woodland
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Semiarid Canadian Breaks

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

8
to
20
ft.

Spread

8
to
20
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Caliche, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Pink

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Forage, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Browsers, Butterflies, Deer, Moths

Maintenance

Low maintenance. It is a common shrub in chaparral vegetation, sprouting after fire. Propagation: Seed.

Comments

Blooms April-June. Shrub or small tree with rounded, serrated, almost-evergreen leaves – dark green on top and fuzzy silver underneath. Non-showy flowers are followed by feathery, silvery-white fruits, occurring from May to November. Slow growing. Adult Food Source: Western Sheepmoth. Larval Host: Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CEMO2. 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=21103&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Cercocarpus+montanus&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) Wasowski, Sally and Wasowski, Andy, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, 1988, 1991, pg 283. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=25136#null

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Contact a local Chapter

State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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