Mountain mahogany is one of my favourite chaparral shrubs. Right now, clusters of yellow flowers are attracting hummingbirds, butterflies—and nature journalers! It’s especially notable for its long, feathery seeds that curl like delicate spirals and glisten in the sunlight. The name Cercocarpus translates to “fruit with a tail,” a nod to these distinctive seed plumes. Despite its name—given for the dark, mahogany-colored bark—this native plant is actually in the Rose family.