Silver Buffalo Berry vs Royalty Raspberry - TreeTime.ca

Silver Buffalo Berry vs Royalty Raspberry

Shepherdia argentea

Rubus x Royalty

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Silver Buffalo Berry
Royalty Raspberry

Silver Buffalo Berry is a cold hardy, ornamental shrub that is commonly used in the first row of shelterbelts instead of caragana or lilac. It features subtle yellow flowers, smooth grey bark, and red fruit. On occasion orange fruit is produced and rarely a yellow fruit. Please note: we regularly collect the rare yellow and orange fruit to use for our seed source.

Long-lived and slow growing, Silver Buffalo Berry is commonly found around sloughs, in coulees, and on light soils across the prairies, and grows best in full sun.

Buyers can enjoy increased bird life to their property, as this shrub acts as a habitat plant. It is also commonly planted for its ornamental and winter interest. It is native to parts of central and western North America.

This species is also known as one of the more salt-tolerant species for those with saline soils.

Note: this berry has mixed reviews when fresh, but makes a desirable jam or jelly with what is described as a clove and pear taste.

Royalty Raspberry is a productive and delicious red-purple raspberry. It is a cross between a red raspberry and a black raspberry. Ripening in late August, the berries are ideal for homemade jams, preserves, and fresh eating.

If you are going for more of a classic red raspberry taste, pick the berries early. But if they are left on the cane until they are purple the taste will be sweeter.

Royalty Raspberry is a floricane-fruiting variety, meaning it primarily produces fruit on second-year canes (previous season’s new growth). They are also referred to as summer-bearing. In late winter or early spring, cut back all spent floricanes, leaving only last season's canes.

Raspberries are self-fertile, meaning they do not require cross-pollination from another variety to produce fruit.

This very popular extra large berried variety was developed at Cornell University.

Silver Buffalo Berry Quick Facts

Royalty Raspberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 4a
Height: 5 m (18 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: high


Foliage: green, slender, silvery
Flowers: white
Berries: deep red, edible
Fruit size: 3.2g
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 0.9 - 1.2 m (3 - 4 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: AB, SK, MB
Other Names: buffalo shepherdia, silver buffaloberry, thorny buffaloberry