Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus montanus
Shrub
Bloom
May — June
Color
Cream — Greenish
Height
60—120 inches
Spread
48—96 inches
Sun
Full sun (6+ hours)
Water
Very low — drought tolerant
The native answer to boxwood for structure and clipped form. Small leathery semi-evergreen leaves hold through much of the Denver winter without the brown scorch boxwood suffers from dry wind and frozen ground, and the plant shears cleanly into a hedge or a screen. It is slower than boxwood, so buy larger stock and be patient through the first two seasons. The feathery silver seed plumes that cover the plant in late summer are a bonus boxwood never gives you.
Growing conditions
- Soil: Well-draining, rocky/gravelly
- Sun: Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water: Very low — drought tolerant
- Drought tolerance: Excellent
- Hardiness: Colorado native / adapted · USDA Zones 4–7
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value: Moderate — native insects; important browse and cover for wildlife
- Landscape use: Clipped or informal hedges, screening, foundation structure, evergreen mass, wildlife habitat.
Want Mountain Mahogany in your yard?
Xeris designs and installs native plant xeriscapes across Denver and the Front Range. We'll walk your site, assess soil and sun, and build a plan that thrives.
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