Russet Buffaloberry
Shepherdia canadensis
- Native to:
- Canada, Labrador, United States
Walter Siegmund (talk)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Elaeagnaceae
- Genus:
- Shepherdia
- Species:
- Shepherdia canadensis
- USDA Symbol:
- SHCA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 250 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, bears
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown following fire; commonly found in post-fire successional communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- commonly found in open woods and rocky slopes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds benefit from cold stratification; germination can be erratic without proper pretreatment.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are either placed in cold moist stratification for 60 to 90 days or scarified in concentrated sulfuric acid for 5 minutes and then stratified for 14 weeks at 2 to 5 C or by wet tumbling scarification treatment for 5 days followed by a 90 day cold, moist stratification at 1 to 3C. Cuttings are cut into 20 to 30 cm lengths, with the base recut and 1/3 of leaves or buds removed, treated with 8000 ppm IBA rooting hormone, and placed in a mist bed.
Establishment: The protocols vary in terms of pre-treatment and germination rates. The highest germination rate is achieved with semi-softwood cuttings treated with 8000 ppm IBA. Germination occurs during stratification, especially in the later stages of the treatment.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Repeated cycles of 4C then 20C, 3 months each. Very prolonged. Requires darkness.