Russet Buffaloberry: A Hardy Native Shrub That Wildlife (and You) Will Love
If you’re looking for a tough, low-maintenance native shrub that punches above its weight in the wildlife-friendly department, let me introduce you to the russet buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis). This unassuming little powerhouse might not win any beauty contests, but it’s the kind of plant that makes both birds and busy gardeners very happy.
What Exactly Is Russet Buffaloberry?
Russet buffaloberry is a perennial, multi-stemmed woody shrub that typically stays a manageable size – usually under 6 feet tall and wide. Don’t let the modest stature fool you though; this plant is built to last and can handle conditions that would make other shrubs throw in the towel.
You might also encounter this plant listed under its synonyms Elaeagnus canadensis or Lepargyrea canadensis in older gardening references, but Shepherdia canadensis is the current accepted name.
Where Does It Call Home?
Talk about a well-traveled native! Russet buffaloberry is truly at home across much of North America. It’s native to Alaska, Canada, and a impressive list of U.S. states including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and extends south into states like Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Why Your Garden (and Local Wildlife) Needs This Plant
Here’s where russet buffaloberry really shines – it’s like opening a wildlife diner in your backyard. Those bright red to orange berries that appear in late summer provide 5% to 10% of some birds’ diets. While birds don’t typically use it for nesting cover, they definitely show up for the buffet.
But the wildlife benefits don’t stop there. The small yellow flowers that appear in late spring are an early-season nectar source for native bees and other pollinators when not much else is blooming yet.
What to Expect: Size, Growth, and Seasonal Interest
Russet buffaloberry grows at a rapid pace and typically reaches about 6 feet in both height and width at maturity. The shrub has a semi-erect, multiple-stem growth form that creates a naturally full appearance without much intervention from you.
Here’s what makes it interesting through the seasons:
- Spring: Small, yellow flowers appear before the leaves fully emerge
- Summer: Dense, coarse-textured foliage with distinctive white-gray coloring
- Fall: Bright red to orange berries steal the show, and the foliage puts on a nice display
- Winter: Moderate porosity means some winter structure
Perfect Growing Conditions
One of the best things about russet buffaloberry is how easygoing it is about growing conditions. This plant is practically the definition of low maintenance.
Soil preferences: Adaptable to coarse and medium-textured soils, but skip the heavy clay. It can handle pH levels from 5.3 to 8.0, so most garden soils work fine.
Water needs: High drought tolerance once established, with medium moisture requirements. Perfect for water-wise gardening!
Sun requirements: Intermediate shade tolerance, but performs best in full to partial sun.
Climate: Hardy in USDA zones 2-7, this plant can handle temperatures down to -63°F. Talk about tough!
Where It Fits in Your Landscape
Russet buffaloberry isn’t necessarily a specimen plant for formal gardens, but it’s perfect for:
- Native plant gardens and naturalized areas
- Wildlife habitat gardens
- Slope stabilization and erosion control
- Low-maintenance landscape borders
- Mixed shrub plantings
Since it’s classified as Obligate Upland in most regions (meaning it almost never occurs in wetlands), keep it in well-draining areas rather than low, wet spots.
Planting and Care Tips
The good news is that russet buffaloberry is routinely available commercially, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding plants.
Planting:
- Plant in spring after the last frost
- Space plants 300-1800 per acre depending on your goals (closer for hedging, farther apart for naturalized plantings)
- Available as bare root, container plants, or can be grown from seed
Care:
- Very low fertility requirements – don’t overdo the fertilizer
- Water regularly the first year, then it’s quite drought tolerant
- Pruning tolerance is medium, so you can shape it if needed
- Has good resprout ability if damaged
Propagation: Seeds require cold stratification, with about 57,563 seeds per pound. The plant also spreads vegetatively at a rapid rate once established.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Russet buffaloberry isn’t perfect – no plant is! It has medium fire tolerance, so don’t count on it in fire-prone areas. The berries don’t persist on the plant long (the birds see to that), and it needs at least 95 frost-free days, so extremely short growing seasons might be challenging.
Also, this plant has medium nitrogen-fixing ability, which is actually a bonus – it can improve soil quality over time.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a truly native, low-maintenance shrub that supports local wildlife and can handle tough conditions, russet buffaloberry deserves a spot in your landscape. It may not be the showiest plant in the garden, but it’s the kind of reliable, hardworking native that forms the backbone of sustainable, wildlife-friendly landscaping. Plus, there’s something satisfying about growing a plant that’s perfectly at home in your local ecosystem and has been thriving there long before any of us arrived on the scene.
