Silver Buffalo Berry vs Black Raspberry - TreeTime.ca

Silver Buffalo Berry vs Black Raspberry

Shepherdia argentea

Rubus occidentalis

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Silver Buffalo Berry
Black 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.

The Black Raspberry is a multi-stemmed shrub that produces edible red berries that deepen to black as they mature. The berries are flavorful and are great for fresh eating and preserves. Black Raspberry shrubs bloom in late spring with white, rose-like flowers and attract many pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Black Raspberries are floricanes primarily fruiting on second year canes. Each spring cut back all two-year old canes, leaving only the last year’s growth.

Silver Buffalo Berry Quick Facts

Black Raspberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 5 m (18 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: high
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: green, slender, silvery
Flowers: white
Berries: deep red, edible
Berries: red to black
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)
Other Names: buffalo shepherdia, silver buffaloberry, thorny buffaloberry
Other Names: bears eye blackberry, black cap, scotch cap