Shrub
Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus montanus
A tough foothills native with backlit, corkscrew seed plumes in late summer.
- Native
Quick facts
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 4–8
- Water
- Very low once established
- Sun
- Full sun to Part sun
- Size
- 6–10 ft tall × 5–8 ft wide
- Bloom & interest
- Inconspicuous cream flowers in spring; curly, feathery silver seed tails in late summer and fall
- Plant type
- Shrub
- Native range
- Native to the foothills of the Rockies and Southwest (CO, NM, UT, WY, AZ, MT, SD, OK, TX)
Why we recommend it
A dependable native screen or hedge for dry foothill sites, with feathery seed tails that glow in low light.
Best regions: Front RangeHigh DesertSouthwest
How to grow it
Watering to establish
Water every 1–2 weeks the first summer; established shrubs need none.
Pruning
Tolerates shaping or hedging in late winter; it resprouts well.
Soil
Rocky, well-drained soil, including alkaline. An important deer browse plant, so it is not deer resistant.
Pairs well with
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Where to buy
Shop Mountain Mahogany from trusted growers. For the best selection of xeric plants, try a mail-order specialist or ask a local independent nursery.
- High Country Gardens (opens in a new tab)Xeric specialist
- Nature Hills Nursery (opens in a new tab)Wide selection
- American Meadows (opens in a new tab)Perennials & seeds
- Etsy (opens in a new tab)Small growers
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