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Alderleaf Mountain Mahogany

Cercocarpus montanus

Native to:
Mexico, United States

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rosaceae
Genus:
Cercocarpus
Species:
Cercocarpus montanus
USDA Symbol:
CEMO2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
300 cm
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
yellowish-white
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Acerra normalis, Acleris foliana, Automeris zephyria, Bank's emerald moth (Chlorosea banksaria), Cecropis moth (Automeris cecrops), Chionodes occidentella, Cochisea sinuaria, 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), 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
Fall Color:
yellow, orange, red
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from root crown after fire; seeds also benefit from fire scarification.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
30–60 days
Notes:
Seeds require scarification (nicking or hot water) followed by cold stratification.

Pre-treatment: Seeds are soaked overnight in water and stratified for 60 days at 3 to 5 C. Alternatively, seeds can be stratified naturally by planting them in the fall in a thin layer of sand on mulched field beds.

Establishment: Seeds are wild collected during fall months and are kept separated according to site, elevation and source. Ripening data varies from August to October depending on latitude and elevation of the seed source. Some seeds will germinate readily during stratification beginning around the fourth week of treatment. Removing germinants frequently helps to reduce fungal build up in the seed lot during the remainder of stratification, and increases the survival odds for those seeds germinating during stratification.

Source: npn.rngr.net

ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 4C for 3 months, then place @ 20C for 3 months.

Source: Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society

Where to Buy

Nationwide Seller