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Common Purple Lilac vs Silver Buffalo Berry
Syringa vulgaris
Shepherdia argentea
Common Purple Lilac is a popular lilac. This large shrub provides excellent privacy or wind protection in an attractive package.
Lilac flowers are pleasantly fragrant and add a beautiful lavender colour to your property. Common Purple Lilac is cold hardy, easy to grow, and can tolerate most soil types.
Some people alternate villosa and common purple lilacs to create the impression that the hedge is in flower for almost a full month with the common purple flowering about 2 weeks sooner than the Villosa Lilac.
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.
Common Purple Lilac Quick Facts
Silver Buffalo Berry Quick Facts
In row spacing: 0.9 m (3 ft)
In row spacing: 0.9 - 1.2 m (3 - 4 ft)