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| ## Silver buffaloberry {#silver-buffaloberry .Title-Header}           |
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| *Shepherdia argentea* (Pursh) Nutt.                                   |
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| Plant Symbol = SHAR                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Bismarck Plant Materials Center

##### Alternate Names  {#alternate-names .Header-3}

Buffaloberry, Bull berry.

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Wildlife*: Provides ideal cover and nesting sites for many birds. It is
a preferred food source of many songbirds and sharp-tailed grouse. Seeds
of this shrub are dispersed in the droppings of birds and ungulates, but
sprouting of the seeds seems to occur very rarely in nature. It is also
a browse source for big game animals, as well as rodents.

*Windbreaks*: This species is suitable for the outside rows of multi-row
belts. In a single-row planting, it forms a low, dense barrier.

*Recreation and Beautification*: The grayish green foliage and bright
red fruit in the fall are colorful. The thorns and moderate suckering
may make it less desirable for urban plantings.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Elaeagnaceae (Oleaster Family). Silver buffaloberry is a
deciduous thorny, thicket-forming native shrub to small tree that is
drought-hardy and winter-hardy. It has opposite branching. As the shrub
matures, the thin bark becomes grayish-brown, and starts to peel. Its
height varies from 3 to 20 feet. The leaves are silvery gray in color on
both top and bottom. They are about 1 to 2 inches long and about 3/8
inches wide. The male and female flowers are found on separate plants.
In early spring (late April), the yellow-colored male flowers are quite
noticeable, while the female flowers remain inconspicuous. This species
is insect pollinated, most commonly by honey bees and bumble
bees.![](media/image3.jpeg){width="2.8in" height="2.1in"}

The fruit is drupe-like, ovoid, about ¼ inch long and one-seeded. The
seed is a small, shiny-brown achene that is very hard. The berries start
to form in late may and ripen by late summer. Most of the fruit are
reddish-orange in color. Rarely, yellow fruit are seen. The ripe berries
remain on the shrubs and, if not eaten, dry berries may still be present
the following spring.

*Distribution*: It is found primarily in the prairies and southern
parklands of the Prairie Provinces of Canada and south to California,
Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma with small populations in western
Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. It is most commonly found in the
northern Great Plains. Precipitation in this region varies from 13 to 23
inches. It is hardy to Zone 3. In its area of distribution, it appears
to be indifferent to variations in climate. No evidence of ecotypic
variation has been noted.

*Habitat*: It is found growing along streams, in coulees and on exposed,
moist hillsides where it forms thickets in which several woody species
are represented. Silver buffaloberry is capable of fixing nitrogen in
root nodules that contain bacteria. This nitrogen may be important to
other species and in the establishment and maintenance of shrub
communities.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

Silver buffaloberry grows on most well-drained soils. It is tolerant of
non-saline to slightly saline, calcareous soils. It prefers full
sunlight, often on northwest to east facing slopes. The shrubs are
excellent bank stabilizers, once established.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Nursery grown seedlings generally establish readily if planted free of
competing vegetation, in locations having 13 inches or more of annual
precipitation. Occasionally, establishment problems are reported for no
obvious reason. Bare root seedlings should be planted in the spring,
once the threat of frost is over. The optimum spacing is 4 to 6 feet
between plants. Successful establishment has been documented from direct
seeding into native grassland. Seed should be sown about ½ inch deep in
mid-September (Knudson et al. 2002).

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Control of invading weeds and grasses is important. Shallow cultivation
works best. Silver buffaloberry is reported to be a suckering plant.
However, the suckers do not seem to be strongly competitive. Browsing
often sharply reduces the amount of suckers. Cultivation can also be
used to stop the spread of shoots or suckers, if that is a concern.
Shelterbelts which are regularly cultivated show little sign of
suckering. Suckering may be encouraged for wildlife plantings. Control
of competing vegetation is still needed to allow for adequate growth of
the buffaloberry plants.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

Insect problems are not severe. White heart rot disease is a common
problem on older plants. If diseased plants are pruned, the life of the
planting can be prolonged.

##### Environmental Concerns {#environmental-concerns .Header-3}

This plant is quite thorny and produces suckers. Care should be taken to
prevent suckers from taking root in unwanted areas around homes and
agricultural systems. The berries contain saponin which can cause
irritation of the digestive system. However, small amounts can be
consumed with little risk.

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

##### Silver buffaloberry is a seed propagated species. The fruit ripens in late summer and should be picked slightly under ripe when making jellies because of the higher pectin levels. The fruit is best harvested by shaking branches and catching the fruits in a sheet or flat pan spread on the ground. When eating fresh, fruit that is harvested after a light frost has a sweeter taste. Looman (1984) estimates that a mature plant may have in excess of 10,000 seeds.  {#silver-buffaloberry-is-a-seed-propagated-species.-the-fruit-ripens-in-late-summer-and-should-be-picked-slightly-under-ripe-when-making-jellies-because-of-the-higher-pectin-levels.-the-fruit-is-best-harvested-by-shaking-branches-and-catching-the-fruits-in-a-sheet-or-flat-pan-spread-on-the-ground.-when-eating-fresh-fruit-that-is-harvested-after-a-light-frost-has-a-sweeter-taste.-looman-1984-estimates-that-a-mature-plant-may-have-in-excess-of-10000-seeds. .Header-3}

#####  {#section .Header-3}

##### The harvested fruit should be macerated to remove the pulp from the seeds. The pulp is removed by floating, changing the water several times. Non-stratified seed should be sown about ½ inch deep in mid-September. Cover the seedbed with sand to prevent soil crusting. When growing seedlings indoors, stratify the seed for 90 days at 41^o^ F in order to break dormancy. Seedlings can be transplanted after two growing seasons. {#the-harvested-fruit-should-be-macerated-to-remove-the-pulp-from-the-seeds.-the-pulp-is-removed-by-floating-changing-the-water-several-times.-non-stratified-seed-should-be-sown-about-½-inch-deep-in-mid-september.-cover-the-seedbed-with-sand-to-prevent-soil-crusting.-when-growing-seedlings-indoors-stratify-the-seed-for-90-days-at-41o-f-in-order-to-break-dormancy.-seedlings-can-be-transplanted-after-two-growing-seasons. .Header-3}

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Seedlings of silver buffaloberry are available from many commercial
conservation nurseries. 'Sakakawea' was developed by the North Dakota
Plant Materials Center, Bismarck. This cultivar originated from
open-pollinated seed collected in 1954 in Canada. Within this selection,
12 to 20 percent of the plants produce yellow fruit.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government". The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

##### References {#references .Header-3}

##### Hladek, K.L. 1971. *Growth characteristics and utilization of buffaloberry* (Shepherdia argentea Nutt.) *in the Little Missouri River badlands of southwestern North Dakota.* Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University. 106 p. Thesis. {#hladek-k.l.-1971.-growth-characteristics-and-utilization-of-buffaloberry-shepherdia-argentea-nutt.-in-the-little-missouri-river-badlands-of-southwestern-north-dakota.-fargo-nd-north-dakota-state-university.-106-p.-thesis. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### Knudson, M., W. Duckwitz, R. Bergsagel, N. Jensen, D. Tober. 2002. *Native shrubs for conservation-II.* 12^th^ Wildland Shrub Symposium, Laramie, WY. Aug., 2002. {#knudson-m.-w.-duckwitz-r.-bergsagel-n.-jensen-d.-tober.-2002.-native-shrubs-for-conservation-ii.-12th-wildland-shrub-symposium-laramie-wy.-aug.-2002. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

##### Looman, J. 1984. *The biological flora of Canada. 4.* Shepherdia argentea (Pursh) Nutt., *buffaloberry.* The Canadian Field Naturalist. 98:231-244. {#looman-j.-1984.-the-biological-flora-of-canada.-4.-shepherdia-argentea-pursh-nutt.-buffaloberry.-the-canadian-field-naturalist.-98231-244. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-3 .Header-3}

##### PFRA. \[n.d.\] *Fruit-bearing shrubs for multi-use shelterbelts and orchards.* Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration. Indian Head, Saskatchewan. {#pfra.-n.d.-fruit-bearing-shrubs-for-multi-use-shelterbelts-and-orchards.-prairie-farm-rehabilitation-administration.-indian-head-saskatchewan. .Header-3}

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Michael Knudson*

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center

Bismarck, ND

##### Edited: 13feb2006 jsp {#edited-13feb2006-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
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