Alderleaf Mountain Mahogany

Alderleaf Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus), also know as Birch Leaf Mahogany, is distributed throughout the western United States and occurs on rocky bluffs, mountainsides, rimrock, breaks, and in canyons and open woodlands in rocky, gravelly thin soils. It is very common in swales where snow lays during the winter. It generally occurs at elevations between 4,000 and 7,000 feet, though it can be found as high at 10,000. It is heat and drought tolerant and is moderately tolerant of acid and alkali soils. It is also somewhat shade tolerant, but grows better without an overgrowing forest canopy. It is most abundant on sunny sites with coarse, shallow, well-drained soils and is associated with Gambel oak, serviceberry, bitterbrush, big sagebrush. Common names include “Bush” Mahogany, Birch Leaf Mahogany, Alder Leaf Mahogany. The names “Birch Leaf” and “Alder Leaf” are derived from the comparison to those two species who’s leaf edges are serrated.

Alderleaf Mountain Mahogany is very palatable and provides good to excellent forage for cattle, sheep, and goats. It is extremely valuable as winter browse for deer and bighorn sheep. The twigs are palatable yearlong and are grazed heavily. Alderleaf Mahogany is an important range and wildlife habitat improvement species and is a common ingredient in reclamation seed mixes.

Alderleaf Mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus) and Curl Leaf “Tree Mahogany” (Cercocarpus ledifolius) are related but do not generally share the same habitat. The leaves of ledifolius are thin and smooth edged while montanus are broad and serrated. Ledifolius grows more tree-like, reaching heights of 20 feet tall, while montanus is short and shrub-like averaging 4-6 feet tall.

American Indians used wood from Alderleaf to make tools and war clubs. Hopi Indians used the bark to make a reddish-brown dye for leather.