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Cercocarpus intricatus

Little-leaf Mountain Mahogany · Littleleaf Mountain Mahogany

Family RosaceaeGenus Cercocarpus

Slender twigs with tiny narrow leaves carrying many seeds drawn out into long curling feathery tails, against red rock
FruitUnknown authorUnknown authorPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, ShrubPLANTS Database
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

Two sources report 8 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    15 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 21 days.

81% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 23Public domain
Show the original text
Cercocarpus (Rosaceae). The data on C. intricatus is now more complete. Seeds germ. 40(81% in 1-3 w)-70D(15% in 2 d-2 w) and 70D(12% in 2nd w)-40(52% in 5-9 w). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(17% in 10-12 w)-40(40% in 8th w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(3/19 in 7-12 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 23. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 3, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    12 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 63 days.

52% germination in 35–63 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 23Public domain
Show the original text
Cercocarpus (Rosaceae). The data on C. intricatus is now more complete. Seeds germ. 40(81% in 1-3 w)-70D(15% in 2 d-2 w) and 70D(12% in 2nd w)-40(52% in 5-9 w). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(17% in 10-12 w)-40(40% in 8th w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(3/19 in 7-12 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 23. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 11, 2026 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on November 10, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    17 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 15 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 56 days.

40% germination in 56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 23Public domain
Show the original text
Cercocarpus (Rosaceae). The data on C. intricatus is now more complete. Seeds germ. 40(81% in 1-3 w)-70D(15% in 2 d-2 w) and 70D(12% in 2nd w)-40(52% in 5-9 w). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(17% in 10-12 w)-40(40% in 8th w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(3/19 in 7-12 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 23. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 12, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on January 11, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 2 years from start to sowing. Then 84 days to germinate.

16% germination in 49–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 23Public domain
Show the original text
Cercocarpus (Rosaceae). The data on C. intricatus is now more complete. Seeds germ. 40(81% in 1-3 w)-70D(15% in 2 d-2 w) and 70D(12% in 2nd w)-40(52% in 5-9 w). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(17% in 10-12 w)-40(40% in 8th w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(3/19 in 7-12 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 23. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 21 days.

60% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 30Public domain
Show the original text
Cercocarpus (Rosaceae). C. intricatus germ. 70D(10%)-40(5%)-70D(17%) and 40(50% in 8-12 w). A second sample germ. 40(60% in 1-3 w) and 70D(12% on 2nd w). The patterns are similar.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 30. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 84 days.

50% germination in 56–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 30Public domain
Show the original text
Cercocarpus (Rosaceae). C. intricatus germ. 70D(10%)-40(5%)-70D(17%) and 40(50% in 8-12 w). A second sample germ. 40(60% in 1-3 w) and 70D(12% on 2nd w). The patterns are similar.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 30. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 7

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    10 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    5 germinated in this phase.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

17% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 30Public domain
Show the original text
Cercocarpus (Rosaceae). C. intricatus germ. 70D(10%)-40(5%)-70D(17%) and 40(50% in 8-12 w). A second sample germ. 40(60% in 1-3 w) and 70D(12% on 2nd w). The patterns are similar.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 30. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 8

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

12% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 30Public domain
Show the original text
Cercocarpus (Rosaceae). C. intricatus germ. 70D(10%)-40(5%)-70D(17%) and 40(50% in 8-12 w). A second sample germ. 40(60% in 1-3 w) and 70D(12% on 2nd w). The patterns are similar.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Cercocarpus p. 30. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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