Catalina Island Mountain Mahogany 🛑 Endangered
Cercocarpus betuloides var. traskiae
- Native to:
- United States
GBIF: Cin-Ty Lee
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Cercocarpus
- Species:
- Cercocarpus betuloides var. traskiae
- USDA Symbol:
- CETR4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 600 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acerra normalis, Acleris foliana, Automeris zephyria, Bank's emerald moth (Chlorosea banksaria), Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), Cecropis moth (Automeris cecrops), Chionodes occidentella, Cochisea sinuaria, Distinct Tolype (Tolype distincta), Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), Elegant sphinx (Sphinx perelegans), Feralia februalis, fruit-tree leafroller (Archips argyrospila), Glenwood Tolype (Tolype glenwoodii), ⚠️Griffin's Sheep Moth (Hemileuca griffini), Io moth (Automeris io), Itame extemporata, Nuttall's buckmoth (Hemileuca nuttalli), Oncocnemis astrigata, Oncocnemis sp., Saturnia albofasciata, Sphinx asellus, Stamnodes annellata, Stamnodes coenonymphata, Stamnodes marinata, sulphur moth (Hesperumia sulphuraria), Synaxis hirsutaria, Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica), Behr's hairstreak (Satyrium behrii), California hairstreak (Satyrium californicum), Hedgerow Hairstreak (Satyrium saepium), Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak (Satyrium tetra)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire; adapted to chaparral fire regimes.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to rocky slopes and chaparral regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds may have variable germination; cold stratification improves rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI