Curl-leaf mountain mahogany
Cercocarpus ledifolius
Last reviewed: September 2026

Toxicity unknown
Curl-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
120"–300" H × 96"–240" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, ID and 6 more states
Pollinators
wind pollinated
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
A slow-growing evergreen small tree or large shrub with small leathery leaves and inconspicuous flowers followed by distinctive twisted, feathery-tailed seeds. Develops a gnarled, sculptural form on dry rocky slopes and ridgelines.
Wildlife value
Browse for mule deer and bighorn sheep, and the dense evergreen canopy offers year-round cover for birds.
Common questions
- How much sun does Curl-leaf mountain mahogany need?
- Curl-leaf mountain mahogany grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Curl-leaf mountain mahogany bloom?
- Curl-leaf mountain mahogany blooms in May and June.
- Where is Curl-leaf mountain mahogany native?
- Curl-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) is native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 6 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does Curl-leaf mountain mahogany attract?
- Curl-leaf mountain mahogany draws wind pollinated.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Curl-leaf mountain mahogany? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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