Russet Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis)

$10.75
Out of Stock

Russet Buffaloberry, aka Soapberry, is an uncommon shrub that produces edible, but somewhat bitter red berries. This adaptable shrub is the host plant to 23 different species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) The small yellow flowers appear before the leaves open (Johnson and Colla, 2023). I have been unable to find much information on its use as an early pollinator plant.

***NOTE:  Buffaloberry is dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female plants, both of which are needed to produce fruit.  Our plants are not gendered at this time, however, and cannot guarantee any specific gender. 

Photo Credit: Yellowstone National Park

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Russet Buffaloberry, aka Soapberry, is an uncommon shrub that produces edible, but somewhat bitter red berries. This adaptable shrub is the host plant to 23 different species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) The small yellow flowers appear before the leaves open (Johnson and Colla, 2023). I have been unable to find much information on its use as an early pollinator plant.

***NOTE:  Buffaloberry is dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female plants, both of which are needed to produce fruit.  Our plants are not gendered at this time, however, and cannot guarantee any specific gender. 

Photo Credit: Yellowstone National Park

Life Cycle: Perennial

Sun Exposure: Full, Partial

Soil Moisture: Medium-wet, Medium, Medium-dry, Dry

Height: 3-8 feet

Plant Spacing: 5-8 feet

Bloom Time: April-May

Bloom Color: Yellow

Advantages: Caterpillar Favorite, Bird Favorite, Great landscaping plant

Host Plant: 23 species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (nwf.org)

Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023

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