Silver buffaloberry
Shepherdia argentea
Silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) is a Colorado-native shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 8–18 ft tall and 6–12 ft wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Tough CO native — silvery foliage, edible orange-red berries (high vitamin C). Excellent windbreak. Needs male + female for fruit.
Colorado nativelow water8–18 ft tall and 6–12 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Shepherdia argentea
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 8–18 ft tall and 6–12 ft wide
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- full sun
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- high
- Bloom color
- yellow
- Bloom time
- early spring
- Pollinator value
- moderate
Planting & establishment
Water weekly first summer; minimal after. Nitrogen-fixing native — improves soil. Suckers freely.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Silver buffaloberry good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Silver buffaloberry is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Silver buffaloberry get?
- It matures to about 8–18 ft tall and 6–12 ft wide.
- How much water does Silver buffaloberry need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Silver buffaloberry native to Colorado?
- Yes — it is a Colorado native.
