Shrub-Tree- California Mountain Mahogany
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Common Name: California Mountain Mahogany, Sweet Brush
Botanical Name: Cercocarpus betuloides
Family: Rosaceae
Description: Evergreen shrub or tree found in the Western mountains and foothills in Oregon, California and east to the Rockies
Sun: Full sun
Water requirements: Little to no water
Soil requirements: Dry slopes; can tolerate clay soils and wind
Habit and form: Shrub 5-12 foot tall to small tree about 20 feet tall with an open habit. Leaves are green above and pale below, so it looks silvery. Leaves are small and hairy
Flower type: Small, clustered white flowers
Flower color bloom season: White flowers in the summer turning into small fruit with a long, feathery plume in the fall
Uses, if any, for plant and/or flowers: Erosion control on slopes
Pruning time and method: Only if needed to remove dead wood; during winter
Maintenance tips: Low maintenance
Comments: Received its common name from its reddish bark
