Silver buffaloberry

Shepherdia argentea

Fruit shrub
Thorny
Nitrogen-fixer
Needs male and female
Drought tolerant

Pet & Human Safety

People: No hazard foundPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Human edibility

Edible

Edible parts

ripe red berries

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

None stated.

Hazard type

Not yet checked.

Hazard route

none found in the sources

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

No source we checked assesses this plant for pets, so the app makes no pet claim either way.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Care

Hardiness zones: NC State lists hardiness zones 3a to 9b (US system) but its NC regions are Mountains and Piedmont only; NDSU: zone 2. No Florida source, so the upper end of that range is only NC State's listing, not a local report.
Mature size: NC State: height 8-12 ft, width 8-12 ft, can grow taller and more tree-like; NDSU: over 7 ft; NRCan: large shrub or very small tree.
Family: Elaeagnaceae (oleaster family)
Where it comes from: NC State lists these states: AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, KS, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, NY, OR, SD, UT, WI, WY.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

Get the app: coming soon