Canadian Buffaloberry vs Oregon Grape - TreeTime.ca

Canadian Buffaloberry vs Oregon Grape

Berberis aquifolium (Mahonia aquifolium)

Shepherdia canadensis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Oregon Grape
Canadian Buffaloberry

Oregon Grape is an evergreen shrub native to North America, found along the Pacific coast. In spring, the bright golden-yellow flowers appear in clusters above the leaves. These flowers eventually give way to edible blue berries in late summer. While not a true grape, the berries appear grape-like due to their colouring and clustered growth. They can be eaten fresh, but the sour taste and high amounts of natural pectin make them well suited for preserves.

The Oregon Grape has leaves that are glossy, leathery, and spiny-edged. This feature gives it its alternate name of Holly-leaved Barberry. When the leaves emerge in the spring they are a bronze-red colour. In the summer they transition to green, followed by bright red to deep burgundy in the fall. Leaves are retained throughout the winter and colder temperatures cause the leaves to turn purplish bronze, providing year round interest to the landscape.

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.

Oregon Grape Quick Facts

Canadian Buffaloberry Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $4.29 - SAVE UP TO 39%
Zone: 5a
Zone: 1a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: shade, partial shade
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: dark green with silver undersides
Fall colour: bright red to deep burgundy
Flowers: yellow
Flowers: tiny, red
Berries: blue to purple, large
Berries: red bitter berries (edible)
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: BC
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: canada buffalo berry, canada buffaloberry, canadian buffaloberry, foam berry, foamberry, russet buffaloberry, soap berry, soapberry, soopolallie