Plant Details

Shepherdia argentea

Buffalo berry

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Shepherdia argentea.

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Common names

21 names · 16 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Buffalo berry
  • silver buffaloberry[1]
  • thorny buffaloberry[1]
Other languages (15)
Dutch
  • Buffelbes
  • Grijze bes
French
  • Baie de buffle
  • shépherdie argentée[1]
Arapaho
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 银水牛果[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 銀水牛果[1]
Cree
  • kinipikomina[1]
  • kinêpikôminânahtik[1]
Czech
  • šeferdie stříbřitá[1]
Estonian
  • hõbe-piisonipõõsas[1]
Finnish
  • hopeapuhvelinmarja[1]
Mono
Ojibwe
  • Mi'ksiníttsiim[1]
Polish
  • szeferdia srebrzysta[1]
Russian
  • Шефердия серебристая[1]
Slovak
  • bizónka striebristá[1]
Swedish
  • bisonbuske[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Shepherdia argentea — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • silver buffaloberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • shépherdie argentée — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • hõbe-piisonipõõsas — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • šeferdie stříbřitá — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • hooxeehib — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • 银水牛果 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • 銀水牛果 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • Mi'ksiníttsiim — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • Шефердия серебристая — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • kinêpikôminânahtik — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • kinipikomina — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • thorny buffaloberry — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • bisonbuske — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • szeferdia srebrzysta — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • hopeapuhvelinmarja — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • wiyaabiha — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.
  • bizónka striebristá — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 79071; Shepherdia argentea.

General information

Scientific name: Shepherdia argentea
Accepted name (Kew): Shepherdia argentea (Pursh) Nutt. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Elaeagnaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Shepherdia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Buffalo berry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 2.44–3.66 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 2.44–3.66 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Ascending, Erect, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [2]
pH:
Alkaline (>8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Dye, Hedge, Nitrogen fixer

Description

Fruits: edible both raw and cooked. The berries can be dried and serve as currants. They have a spicy yet pleasant flavor. Before frost, they are sharp in taste; after the frost period, they become sweeter. The fruits are mostly used in making jam, pies, and so on. Due to the saponin content, they are consumed in moderation. The fruit is 9 mm long and contains one seed.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 15/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 343115; name ID 2592742; Shepherdia Nutt.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 701001; name ID 2592744; Shepherdia argentea (Pursh) Nutt..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Shepherdia argentea — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .