Buffaloberry

25 plants per unit

Shepherdia argentea, or Buffaloberry, is native to most of Kansas. It is a thorny shrub, sometimes nearly tree like, growing 6 to 10 feet tall. It grows at about 12 to 18 inches per year.

Leaves, Stems and Fruit
Leaves are opposite, 1 to 2 inchels long, obtuse with silver scales. Flowers and fruit is red to orange. Fruit is ripe in June and July.

Use
Windbreaks - Buffaloberry may be used as the inside row of a windbreak. It can help reduce wind velocity near the ground.

Wildlife Habitat - This thorny shrub is valuable for songbird and gamebird nesting, loafing and roosting. Various other animals also use it for loafing, bedding and escape cover. The fruit is eaten by numerous birds and other animals.

Human Food - The fruit is used for making jam and jelly.

Adaptation and Soil
Buffaloberry is adapted statewide and in a wide range of soils, does well in dry or alkaline situations. Prefers sunny open positions.

Spacing
Buffaloberry are spaced 6 to 8 feet apart.

Culture
One-year-old, bare-root seedlings 18 to 24 inches tall are used in plantings. Survival generally is very good. Although somewhat tolerant of weed and grass competition, they will develop faster with good weed and grass control.

Pests
Insects and diseases may cause problems with this species, but usually not serious.