Shepherdia canadensis (Canada Buffaloberry) - photos and description


Shrub leafed out pretty well on May 14th in above photo.


Shrub with few leaves but in full flower on May 2nd in above photo.


Stems erect to decumbent.


Male flowers in above photo.


Male flowers in above photo.


Male flowers in above photo.


Male flowers in above photo.


Female flowers in above photo.


Female flowers in above photo along with leaf underside.


Leaves have stellate hairs.

General: Shrub with a spreading growth habit, stems without thorns. Flowers appear before leaves.

Flowers: Male and female flowers on separate plants. Flowers greenish, we measured male flowers at 4 mm diameter and 3 mm tall, and female flowers at 3 mm diameter and 2 mm tall.

Leaves: Leaves are elliptical to ovate, opposite, and usually arranged in opposite pairs on the stems. Leaves have stellate hairs, margins rolled under, and rust-coloured undersides. Leaf highlighted in photo above was 25 mm long by 11 mm wide.

Height: Height is listed in Budd's Flora to 3 m, we measured plants to 1.5 m tall.

Habitat: Open woods and riverbanks, prairies and parklands.

Abundance: Common.

Origin: Native.

When and where photographed: The above photos were taken on a prairie hillside, April 30th and May 14th, Qu'Appelle Valley, about 60 km west of Regina, SK, and May 2nd, roadside edge of tree line, Moose Mountain Provincial Park, about 200 km south east of our home in Regina, SK.