Shepherdia argentea
( shef - HAIR - dee - uh ar - GEN - tee - uh )
At-A-Glance Information
This species of deciduous shrubs is also called Silver Buffaloberry, Bullberry or Silverberry, and needs full sun and little to regular water. Silver Buffaloberry is a valuable plant for wildlife; the bright berries will attract birds to your garden. These shrubs can take a variety of harsh conditions, including wind, cold, drought, and poor soil. They have a suckering, spreading habit and reach 6-12 feet tall and about as wide. Branchlets are spiny, and leaves are silvery green. If a male and female plant are near each other, the female plants will produce small sour bright red to orange berries that are great in jams and jellies. These plants are native from Canada to western mountainous areas. They do best in zones 1-3, 7 and 10. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map. This species belongs to the small genus Shepherdia, which includes just three species, and is a member of the plant family Oleaceae.
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Caring for and pruning shepherdia argentea shrubs
Plant your Silverberry shrub in full sun to partial shade. These shrubs can tolerate a wide range of soil types, but it is important that it is well-draining. Amend soil with plenty of organic matter before planting your shrub, as this will improve soil fertility and drainage. Water your new shrub regularly to help establish a strong root system. At maturity, these shrubs are drought-tolerant and only really needs to be deep watered in the warmer months of the year. Avoid the soil becoming waterlogged. Silverberry shrubs don't generally need fertilization, but if your soil is particularly poor or the plant seems to be struggling, it may help to apply a feeding with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer in the springtime to support that year's foliage growth, flowering, and fruiting. Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plant to increase soil moisture retention. Pruning is not necessary; these shrubs have a beautiful habit when left to their own devices; simply remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches when they pop up, and if the shrub needs a little rejuvenating prune, it is best done in late winter or early springtime before new growth starts to emerge.
Harvesting Shepherdia argentea Shrubs
The berries produced by these shrubs are edible, and can be used to make preserves and added to other recipes. Harvest the berries when they are ripe (this will typically be in late summer or early fall). These berries have thin skin and very juicy inner flesh with a tart, acidic flavor (they are sweetest when ripe). In most cases, a good amount of sugar is needed in Silverberry recipes to hide the bitter, acidic taste of the fruit. The upside of these berries is that they are high in vitamin C.
Harvesting Shepherdia argentea Shrubs
The berries produced by these shrubs are edible, and can be used to make preserves and added to other recipes. Harvest the berries when they are ripe (this will typically be in late summer or early fall). These berries have thin skin and very juicy inner flesh with a tart, acidic flavor (they are sweetest when ripe). In most cases, a good amount of sugar is needed in Silverberry recipes to hide the bitter, acidic taste of the fruit. The upside of these berries is that they are high in vitamin C.
Propagation
Silver Buffaloberry can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Shepherdia argentea by Cutting
Propagating Shepherdia argentea by Seed
Propagating Shepherdia argentea by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Shepherdia argentea by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Problems and Pests
Shepherdia argentea shrubs are generally resistant to pests and diseases.
Gallery
Videos
All about eating Silver Buffaloberry fruit.
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All about these wonderful berries.
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All about Silver Buffaloberry shrubs.
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Learn about this interesting species of fruiting shrubs.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 603, Shepherdia argentea (Silver Buffaloberry, Silverberry)
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