Taxon

Cercocarpus montanus

 
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Cercocarpus montanus - true mountain mahogany, alderleaf mountain mahogany, palo duro
Image: Donita Frazier
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Common name: true mountain mahogany, alderleaf mountain mahogany, palo duro
Family: Rosaceae (Rose)
Distribution: Central and Western United States
Habitat: Rocky hillsides, cliffs, open woods, mesas
Hardiness: USDA Zone 4 (-30 to -20 °F)
Life form: Evergreen shrub/sub-shrub
Occurrence in New Mexico: New Mexico native plant
Growing Conditions: This shrub or small tree grows in dry chaparral, foothill and lower mountain regions of most of the western United States, from Texas north to Montana and Idaho, and south to California and central Mexico. Two varieties grow in New Mexico: var. montanus grows in the western, northcentral and southeastern parts of the state; and var. argenteus grows in the northeastern part of the state. It is found on dry slopes and along washes in piñon-juniper woodlands, pine-oak forests, and in dry shrubby or brushy areas of the mountains. It grows in well-drained sandy to clay soil. It is pH adaptable and is tolerant of calcareous soil. Mountain mahogany tolerates cool, shady sites as well as hot, dry, sunny sites. Grow it with dry to medium moisture; it is very drought tolerant once established. It fixes nitrogen and is good for revegetation and erosion control. It withstands cutting and heavy browsing and resprouts after fire. This shrub makes effective windbreaks and a good background plant for perennial borders or woodland gardens. It grows slowly from seeds; moist stratification or scarification improves germination.
Links: SFBG Plant of the Month • Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN-Taxonomy) • NatureServe Explorer • SEINet • Wildflower Center - Native Plant Database

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