Canadian Buffaloberry vs Witch Hazel - TreeTime.ca

Canadian Buffaloberry vs Witch Hazel

Shepherdia canadensis

Hamamelis virginiana

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Canadian Buffaloberry
Witch Hazel

Canadian Buffalo Berry is a native deciduous shrub found throughout North America. This hardy, medium-sized shrub will tolerate poor soil conditions and produces attractive, edible–though very bitter–red fruit.

Witch Hazel is a deciduous shrub, or small tree, with a short trunk, bearing numerous spreading, crooked branches.

The seeds grow in a long, wooden pod with two to four seeds per pod. Upon ripening, the pods burst, firing the seeds up to 30km an hour.

The leaf and bark extract of Witch Hazel has been used as a remedy to common ailments such as inflammation, bruises and much more for many centuries.

Canadian Buffaloberry Quick Facts

Witch Hazel Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Foliage: dark green with silver undersides
Flowers: tiny, red
Berries: red bitter berries (edible)
Seeds: seeds ejected to a distance of up to 30 ft
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: canada buffalo berry, canada buffaloberry, canadian buffaloberry, foam berry, foamberry, russet buffaloberry, soap berry, soapberry, soopolallie