Botanical Name: Cercocarpus betuloides
Common Name: Mountain mahogany, California hardtack
Type of Plant: dicot: shrub-tree
Character evergreen
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape an upright, mostly multi-trunked plant, with stiff erect or spreading branches forming an open, irregular or rounded canopy; the bark is gray and smooth
Height 10' - 20'(30')
Spread 2/3 to equal
Growth Rate moderate
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors thrives in full sun sites; tolerates some shade inland
Soil tolerates most; best in loose, well-draining sites
Hardiness hardy (zones 6-24); thrives in warm dry habitats
 
Morphology:
Leaves pinnate, alternate, broadly elliptical-oval to obovate; to 1" long with a serrate margins along the upper half; medium to dark green above, paler beneath, with prominent veins
Flowers inconspicuous, small, yellowish-green, in clusters of 2-3; March - May
Fruit an achene: small, but with a very distinctive elongated twisted, soft-hairy featherlike style attached
 
Propagation:

 
Usage:
with pruning, can be developed into a small accent tree valued for its attractive white bark, dark green foliage and distinctive feathery fruit; very good for screens, loose background plantings; excellent for dry slopes
 
Landscape Care:
Watering an occasional deep soak; the plant is very drought-tolerant once established
Fertilizing none is required
Pruning for accent tree, head high & develop wide-spreading framework; or leave alone, or selectively head back for fuller canopy
Pests/Diseases relatively free
Special Conditions/Other extensive root system makes it good for slope stabilizing
 
Origin: Oregon to Baja
Family: Rosaceae

Notes:
 
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