silver buffaloberry Elaeagnaceae Shepherdia argentea (Pursh) Nutt. symbol: SHAR Leaf: Opposite or sub-opposite, simple, deciduous, elliptical to ovate or obovate, entire margins, 1 to 2 inches long, somewhat thickened; dark green above with silvery white scales, paler and pubescent below with silvery scales. Flower: Species is dioecious; male and female flowers yellow-brown and inconspicuous, appearing in early spring. Fruit: A bright red drupe-like achene, 1/4 inch long, ovoid, generally with a few silvery scales, ripen in mid to late summer and often occur in great abundance. Twig: Slender, light brown and covered in numerous reddish brown, scruffy scales; buds stalked with valvate scales, flower buds more round; twigs often sharp-pointed or bearing thorns. Bark: Gray-brown with shallow furrows and flat-topped ridges, later exfoliating. Form: An upright shrub up to 20 feet in height with a dense rounded crown; often forming thickets and spreading from rhizomes. Additional Range Information: Shepherdia argentea is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting silver buffaloberry. External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson