Silver buffaloberry is a woody shrub or small tree native to western North America from Canada to California, Arizona, and New Mexico. It grows 6-15 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide, with silver-gray peeling bark and elongated silver-green waxy leaves. In spring it produces small red-brown or yellow fruits that are edible and become sweeter after frost. Silver buffaloberry is a low-maintenance plant that provides habitat and food for birds and insects, and its fruits were used medicinally by Native Americans.

1. *Silver buffaloberry – Shepherdia argentea (shep-HER-dee-uh ar-JEN-tee-uh)
Family: Elaeagnaceae (Oleaster Family)
Native to: Western North America from Canada to CA, AZ, NM. Locally on Mt. Pinos (Ventura Co,);
along streams, river bottoms, slopes in a variety of plant communities including woodland, pinyon-
juniper, grasslands, coastal sage scrub and riparian from about 3000-6000 ft.
Growth characteristics: woody shrub/small tree mature height: 6-15 ft. mature width: 6-10
ft. Mound-shaped large shrub or small deciduous tree with spiny twigs. Bark is silver gray, peeling,
attractive. Leaves are simple, elongated and silver-green, waxy. Somewhat like an Olive tree in
appearance. Roots include deep and shallow roots. Plants will sucker from roots.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring – usually April-May. Plants are dioecious (separate male and
female plants); need both sexes for fruit. Blooms appear before the leaves. Fruits are small (~ ¼
inch) red-brown or sometimes yellow, ripening in fall. Fruits are edible, and become sweeter after a
frost. Mostly used cooked for jelly, syrup, beverages, sauces, etc.
Uses in the garden: Makes a nice accent shrub or small tree. Excellent habitat or edible plant.
Often used for hedgerows or windbreaks. Would make a nice background shrub. Important
medicinal plant for Native Americans wherever it grows wild.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native shrubs and small trees.
Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: provides cover and fruits. Attracts many insects, including
pollinator bees.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade (hot gardens)
Soil Adaptable; any local pH.
Water Adaptable; Near-regular water to occasional (Water Zone 2 or 2-3).
Fertilizer Probably fine with light fertilizer.
Other Organic mulch fine in our climate.
Management: Prune as needed/desired. Remove suckers as needed. Beware of thorns when
pruning or picking fruits. Low maintenance plant.
Propagation: from seed: fresh seed best; otherwise, 2-3 cold-moist by cuttings: yes; also suckers
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8, 11, 13, 14, 28, 42 4/2/14
* not native to western Los Angeles County, but a CA native © Project SOUND