Scientific Name: Shepherdia canadensis
Common Name: buffaloberry, soapberry
Family Name: Elaeagnaceae
Origin: North America
Hardiness Zone: Zone 2: (-46 to -40 °C)
Plant Type: Shrub - deciduous
Mature Size: 1.3 - 2.0m x 1.5 - 2.0m (height x width)
Habit: Dense, Spreading
Form: Oval - horizontal
Texture: Medium
Landscape Uses: Attract birds, Native planting, Summer interest, Wildlife food
Exposure: Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil or Media: Alkaline, Rocky or gravelly or dry, Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Opposite, Leathery, Branching hairs, Ovate, Entire
Flowers: Flowers clustered, Yellow, Green-yellow, May-Jun
Fruit: Achene, Drupe, Edible, (Accessory tissue), Red, Jul-Aug
Key ID Features:
Stems brownish-scaled; leaves opposite, most ovate, 3-6cm long x 2-3cm wide, margins entire, covered in silver branching hairs and rust-colored scales on lower surface; berries bright red, round-oval, 6-8mm long, spotted, soapy feel when crushed, bitter. Winter ID: twigs and buds covered in brown and silver "scales"; buds oblong, 6-9 mm long, stalked and naked with two ovate valvate scales are ovate to oval and flat, flower buds globose.