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Shepherdia argentea

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
shep-HER-dee-uh ar-JEN-tee-uh
Description

Silver Buffaloberry is a thorny deciduous shrub in the  Oleaster family. It will form thickets along moist areas such as river banks and lakes. Male and female flowers are produced on separate plants and both are required for fruit formation. Although the common name suggests that it is a berry-producing plant, the fruits are stone fruit.  Stone fruits have flesh or pulp surrounding a stone, similar to a peach or plum.  The plant usually grows up to 12 feet tall and wide but can grow taller and more tree-like. 

The stems and leaves are silvery in color and the bark is exfoliating with long spines up to 2 inches long. The small yellow flowers appear in spring and the red fruit is about 1/4 to 1/3 inch in size on pollinated female plants in fall. The fruits are enjoyed by birds and are also fit for human consumption.  They can be eaten raw but are sour or used to make jams, jellies and pies.

This plant will grow in a variety of conditions. In the midwest, it is usually along waterways or wet meadows but further west it is found growing in drier conditions and gravelly soils. It prefers full sun but tolerates light shade and is easy to grow in average garden soil. Because it fixes nitrogen, it can tolerate poor soils. Use this plant in a mixed shrub border or as a hedge.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:  Deer may eat and damage the branches and leaves.  Although there are no serious insect or disease issues, powdery mildew, rust and leaf spot are minor problems.

 

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#thorns#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#erosion control#salt spray tolerant#wind tolerant#red fruits#edible fruits#poor soils tolerant#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#thorns#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#erosion control#salt spray tolerant#wind tolerant#red fruits#edible fruits#poor soils tolerant#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Shepherdia
    Species:
    argentea
    Family:
    Elaeagnaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Western and midwest US and Canada
    Distribution:
    AZ , CA , CO , IA , ID , KS , MI , MN , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , NY , OR , SD , UT , WI , WY Canada: AB , MB , SK
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds eat the fruits.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Screening
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    The fruits are edible, however, they may be sour when eaten raw. Used best for jams, jellies and pies
    Dimensions:
    Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Ascending
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
    Appendage:
    Spines
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    1/4-1/3 inch bright-red fruits with a single seed inside form on the female plant in fall.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Description:
    Yellowish small tubular female flowers with petal-like sepals in spring before the leaves. Male flowers are in axillary spikes
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The 1-2" leaves have silver scales on both sides and are densely packed on the stems. The tip is rounded and the base is acute or wedge-shaped.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Bark Description:
    Exfoliating thin bark is grayish brown, rough and peeling on the lower trunk.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Twigs have silvery scales that shed the second season with thorns at the tips
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Border
    Hedge
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Poor Soil