Cercocarpus ledifolius
Common name: 
Curlleaf Mountain-mahogany
Pronunciation: 
ser-ko-KAR-pus lee-di-FOH-lee-us
Family: 
Rosaceae
Genus: 
Cercocarpus
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
Yes
  • Broadleaf evergreen xerophytic shrub or small tree, to 15 ft (4.5 m) tall, occasionally to 35 ft (11 m), may have a similar spread, round or umbrella-shaped crown, slow growing.  Leaves alternate, simple, often clustered at ends of spur-like shoots, 1.3-2.5 cm long, leathery, somewhat resinous, narrowly elliptical, acute at both ends, margins entire and turned under (revolute), pubescent when unfolding, then smooth and dark green above, paler and pubescence below, petiole very short.  Flowers are small, greenish yellow, trumpet-shaped, and pubescent.  Fruit a cylindrical, hairy, achene tipped with plumose, twisted tail (persistent style), 4-5 cm long.
  • Sun, well-drained soil
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 6     Native ranges from the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range east to Montana and south to Colorado, northern Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico; extremely long-lived.
  • ledifolius: with leaves resembling Ledum (e.g., Labrador Tea, Ledum groenlandicum).
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, in habitat

    plant habit, in habitat

  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • large and small branches

    large and small branches

  • leafy shoots

    leafy shoots

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leaves on spur-like shoots

    leaves on spur-like shoots

  • leaves, underside

    leaves, underside

  • flower, spent flowers and leaves

    flower, spent flowers and leaves

  • start of fruit growth

    start of fruit growth

  • trunk, bark

    trunk, bark

  • plant habit, winter

    plant habit, winter