Silver Buffaloberry
Shepherdia argentea
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Elaeagnaceae
- Genus:
- Shepherdia
- Species:
- Shepherdia argentea
- USDA Symbol:
- SHAR
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 600 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), Coleophora elaeagnisella, Columbia silk moth (Hyalophora columbia), Kaslo silkmoth (Hyalophora "kasloensis"), Melanchra assimilis, Papestra cristifera, Spiramater lutra, Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown following fire. Often increases in density after moderate fire disturbance.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in poor, dry soils typical of prairies
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Acid scarification or mechanical scarification recommended before cold stratification. Seeds may have erratic germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are stratified for 60 to 90 days or naturally stratified by planting them in the fall in a thin layer of sand on mulched field beds.
Establishment: Seeds are wild collected during fall months and are kept separated according to site, elevation and source. Mature fruit is a fleshy red berry. S. argentea is found in all western states except Washington. It is also found in the upper Midwest to New York and the Great Plains states.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 4C for 3 weeks, then place @ 20C.