Other Names:  syn. Cercocarpus alnifolius

Description:

A large evergreen shrub or small tree that is great as an accent plant, border shrub, or screen; large, birch-like dark green leaves with rounded, toothed tips contrast the silvery gray bark; an excellent, attractive choice for summer dry areas

Ornamental Features

Island Mountain Mahogany is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. The creamy white fruits are carried on showy plumes with silver overtones, which are displayed in abundance from mid summer to early fall. It has attractive dark green foliage with white undersides. The serrated oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. It features subtle clusters of creamy white tubular flowers with buttery yellow overtones at the ends of the branches in mid spring.

Landscape Attributes

Island Mountain Mahogany is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Island Mountain Mahogany is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• Windbreaks and Shelterbelts
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Island Mountain Mahogany will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 400 years or more; think of this as a heritage shrub for future generations!

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.