Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides
Birch-leaf mountain-mahogany
Photo: parent species Cercocarpus betuloides · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides (Birch-leaf mountain-mahogany) is a native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by broad serrate leaves vs narrow entire leaves of ledifolius complex.
Birch-leaf mountain-mahogany is a California native shrub found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, central western California, southwestern California, and the North Coast Ranges in dry, rocky chaparral slopes at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small, delicate white to cream-colored flowers in clusters of 1 to 6 blooms. Growing with a dense, multi-stemmed form reaching 1 to 3 meters tall, it develops a sturdy woody structure with multiple branching stems. Its leaves are small and distinctive, with obovate to nearly round blades 1 to 2.7 centimeters long, featuring fine teeth along the edges and short petioles 1 to 6 millimeters in length. The fruit develops with an elongated feathery style reaching 5 to 9 centimeters long, creating an elegant silhouette in its native habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; distinguished by broad serrate leaves vs narrow entire leaves of ledifolius complex
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes, chaparral
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: Fresno, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Kern, San Bernardino, Glenn, Los Angeles, Tulare, Ventura, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Orange, Monterey, Butte, Madera, Colusa, San Benito, Modoc, Lassen, Placer, Shasta, Yolo, Yuba, Alameda, Tehama, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Marin, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tuolumne, Trinity, Solano, Alpine, El Dorado, Amador, Mono, Inyo, Sacramento, Kings, Imperial, Stanislaus, Del Norte
Bloom period
Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Ceanothus: Cercocarpus has no petals and feathery-tailed fruits; Ceanothus has tiny cupped petals and berry-like capsules.; vs Holodiscus: Cercocarpus flowers lack petals entirely; Holodiscus has tiny white petals in showy foam-like panicles.; vs Quercus: Cercocarpus has feathery-tailed fruits; oaks have acorns in cups.; vs Rhamnus: Cercocarpus has feathery-tailed dry fruits; Rhamnus has smooth berry-like drupes.; vs Alnus: Cercocarpus has feathery-tailed single fruits; Alnus has woody cone-like catkins.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides native to California?
Yes. Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides bloom?
Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides grow?
Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides occurs in Fresno, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Kern, San Bernardino, Glenn, Los Angeles, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides belong to?
Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides is in the Rosaceae family, genus Cercocarpus.
What habitat does Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides grow in?
Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides grows in Dry, rocky slopes, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Cercocarpus betuloides var. blancheae — Island mountain-mahogany
- Cercocarpus betuloides var. macrourus — Few flowered mountain mahogany
- Cercocarpus ledifolius — Curl-leaf mountain-mahogany
- Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus — Curl leaf mountain mahogany
- Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intricatus — Little leaved mountain mahogany
- Cercocarpus ledifolius var. ledifolius — Curl leaf mountain mahogany
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.