Mountain Mahogany Seeds|Cercocarpus betuloides|California Native Plant|Native Seeds|Organic|Rare|Southwestern Plants|Tree Seeds|Gardening

California Mountain Mahogany typically grows in dry areas in the foothills and mountains of California, often in chaparral communities, and in other parts of the southwestern United States and Baja California. This shrub has a typical size of three to five meters in height. The etymology of the species name derives from the Greek kerkos, from which the genus name root cerco derives, meaning "tail", referring to the tail-like appearance of the fruit; and carpus meaning "fruit": thus fruit with tail. Betula is the genus for birch, and the species name refers to the birch-like leaves. The leaves are distinctive in that they have smooth edges from the base to about half way up, then are wavy or toothed to the rounded tip. The shrub's white flowers are small, clustered, and mildly scented. The fruit is tubular, with a distinctive curly light thin feather-like extension going out 2 to 3 inches. The wood of the shrub is extremely hard and reddish, from which the incorrect common name comes. Native American Californians used the hard wood for arrows, digging and spearing fish.

This plant is great as a screening shrub. It's a great replacement for bamboo. All species of Cercocarpus are long-lived with extensive root systems, and they fix nitrogen via nodules on their root systems, making them excellent plants for restoration and erosion control. Deer tend to browse on this plant, so some protections may be necessary.