Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database


Cercocarpus betuloides (Birch Leaf Mountain Mahogany, Alder Leaf Mahogany)

Kingdom

 Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom

 Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision

 Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division

 Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class

 Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass

 Rosidae

Order

 Rosales

Family

 Rosaceae – Rose family

Genus

 Cercocarpus Kunth – mountain mahogany

Species

 Cercocarpus montanus Raf. – alderleaf mountain mahogany

Variety

 Cercocarpus montanus Raf. var. glaber (S. Watson) F.L. Martin – birchleaf mountain mahogany

The leaves of this Mountain Mahogany truly are rounded and deeply veined like Birch or Alder leaves. They are dark green and leathery with silky hairs underneath.

This tree is semi-evergreen in the Rocky Mountain region, and evergreen when found in its native southern Oregon location.

It does well in USDA 3-10.

This is a tough, draught tolerant, sun-loving tree, which will reach 25’ and become very sculptural.

Birch Leaf Mahogany bears single cream cup shaped flowers followed in fall by attractive upright twisted plume like seed heads.

This tree is a welcome addition in a dry spot needing a touch of green.

Photo above courtesy of National Park Service.

Drawing above by Marci Degman

   

Photo, left, credit:  Tortie tude; Photo, center, credit:  Raffi Kojian, http://www.Gardenology.org; Photo, right, credit:  National Park Service

   

Photo, left, credit:  Lazaregagnidze; Photo, center, credit:  Julia Lynam, National Park Service; Photo, right, credit:  Dinkum

Contact:  nwplants@gmail.com ~ Copyright 2016 © The Wild Garden: Hansen’s Northwest Native Plant Database  ~ All rights reserved