Cercocarpus breviflorus is an evergreen tree or large shrub growing to about 5 metres (16 ft) tall, often with several branches springing from the base.

The small leaves are oblong to oblanceolate, up to 2 cm (1 in) long, pubescent and entire apart from a few weak teeth near the apex.

They are fasciculate, with groups of two to four leaves forming small tufts separated by lengths of bare twig.

The fruits are achenes with twisted, hairy, elongated and persistent styles, looking like long narrow feathers.

[3][2] Hairy mountain mahogany grows at moderately high elevations, often in the company of pinyon pine (Pinus edulis), alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana), one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma), cliff fendlerbush (Fendlera rupicola), antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), wavyleaf oak (Quercus x undulata), and skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata).