Plant Details

Shepherdia canadensis

Buffalo Berry, Russet buffaloberry, Canada Buffaloberry

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

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Common names

22 names · 16 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Buffalo Berry
  • Canada Buffaloberry[2]
  • Canadian buffalo-berry[2]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • Russet buffaloberry[1]
  • Soapberry[2]
  • soopolallie[2]
Other languages (15)
Dutch
  • Canadese buffelbes
French
  • Buisson à grappes
  • shépherdie du Canada[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 加拿大水牛果[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 加拿大水牛果[2]
Czech
  • šeferdie kanadská[2]
Danish
  • Canadisk bøffelbær[2]
Downriver Halkomelem
  • sχʷésəm[2]
Estonian
  • kanada piisonipõõsas[2]
Finnish
  • kanadanpuhvelinmarja[2]
German
  • Kanadische Büffelbeere[2]
Russian
  • Шефердия канадская[2]
Saanich
  • SW̱ÁSEM IȽĆ[2]
Slovak
  • bizónka kanadská[2]
Swedish
  • kanadensisk bisonbuske[2]
Upriver Halkomelem
Sources & name notes (2)

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] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Russet buffaloberry — VernacularName.tsv, line 167707; taxon 4X4FC.
[2] Shepherdia canadensis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Canadian buffalo-berry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • shépherdie du Canada — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • soopolallie — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • kanada piisonipõõsas — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • Canada Buffaloberry — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • šeferdie kanadská — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • Kanadische Büffelbeere — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • 加拿大水牛果 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • 加拿大水牛果 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • Soapberry — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • Шефердия канадская — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • Canadisk bøffelbær — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • kanadensisk bisonbuske — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • kanadanpuhvelinmarja — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • bizónka kanadská — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • sχʷésəm — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • SW̱ÁSEM IȽĆ — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.
  • sxwesum — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 79072; Shepherdia canadensis.

General information

Scientific name: Shepherdia canadensis
Accepted name (Kew): Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Elaeagnaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Buffalo Berry, Russet buffaloberry, Canada Buffaloberry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 2.50 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2-6
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Repellent

Description

The fruit of this plant can be eaten raw or cooked. Before it freezes, it has a sharp but pleasant taste, but after frost, it becomes sweeter. Sometimes the fruit can also have a bitter taste. The berries are often used in cakes and were once a beloved candy of the North American Indians. They made a foam from the berries and water by whipping the mixture, similar to beaten eggs. The berries should not come into contact with fat, as this would hinder the formation of foam. Sugar is now used to make the fruit sweeter, and the candy is now called 'Indian ice.' The fruits are also valued for their saponin content. They have a diameter of about 5 mm.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

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 343110; name ID 2592736; Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Shepherdia canadensis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1216609, ID 4X4FC: Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. Native Plant Trust; Go Botany Shepherdia canadensis — Go Botany
    Supports: Foliage
    Relevant sections
    • Foliage: Leaf duration

    Source checked on .