buffaloberry Elaeagnaceae Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt. symbol: SHCA Leaf: Opposite, simple, elliptical to ovate, entire margins, 1 to 2 inches long, somewhat thickened dark green above with numerous silvery white scales, silvery white below with red-brown scales. Flower: Species is dioecious; male and female flowers both light yellow-green, small (1/6 inch) and inconspicuous, appearing in early spring. Fruit: A bright red drupe-like achene, 1/3 inch long and somewhat elongated, 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. Bark: Shiny reddish gray with numerous lenticels that develop into larger cracks and splits. Form: A small shrub reaching up to 6 feet in height (occasionally much larger) with a dense rounded crown. Looks like: roundleaf buffaloberry - Russian-olive - silverberry - autumn-olive Additional Range Information: Shepherdia canadensis is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting 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