Cercocarpus ledifolius
Curl-leaf mountain-mahogany
(c) Rick Mandel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rick Mandel · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Cercocarpus ledifolius (Curl-leaf mountain-mahogany) is a native California shrub / tree in the Rosaceae family, recognized by Leaves narrow (0.3--3 cm), linear-lanceolate, entire, leathery, revolute (curled margins); stamens 10--25; higher-elevation & Great Basin.
Curl-leaf mountain-mahogany is a California native shrub found in rocky, dry montane regions of the Sierra Nevada and Transverse Ranges at elevations of 1,000 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces small white to cream flowers in compact clusters. Growing with stiff, gnarled branches 1 to 3 meters tall, it forms dense, wind-sculpted thickets with a distinctive twisted appearance. Its leathery leaves are narrow and linear, typically 1 to 3 centimeters long, with a deep green color and smooth margins that curl slightly at the edges. The fruit is a feathery, elongated plume 6 to 11 millimeters long that adds winter interest to its rugged landscape.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Leaves narrow (0.3--3 cm), linear-lanceolate, entire, leathery, revolute (curled margins); stamens 10--25; higher-elevation & Great Basin
Habitat and range
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Mono, Inyo, Modoc, Siskiyou, Ventura, Trinity, Shasta, Alpine, Kern, Tulare, Riverside, Plumas, Lassen, Mariposa, Glenn, Sierra, Lake, Mendocino, Tuolumne, Nevada, Santa Barbara, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, El Dorado
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 ledifolius native to California?
Yes. Cercocarpus ledifolius is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Cercocarpus ledifolius grow?
Cercocarpus ledifolius occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Mono, Inyo, Modoc, Siskiyou, Ventura, Trinity and other counties.
What plant family does Cercocarpus ledifolius belong to?
Cercocarpus ledifolius is in the Rosaceae family, genus Cercocarpus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus — Curl leaf mountain mahogany
- Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intricatus — Little leaved mountain mahogany
- Cercocarpus ledifolius var. ledifolius — Curl leaf mountain mahogany
- Cercocarpus minutiflorus — Smooth mountain mahogany
- Cercocarpus sp. — Mountain-mahogany
- Cercocarpus traskiae — Catalina island mountain-mahogany
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.