Santa Fe Botanical Garden

Common name: silver buffaloberry

Family: Elaeagnaceae (Oleaster)

Distribution: Central and Western United States, Central and Western Canada

Habitat: Montane slopes, canyons, foothills

Hardiness: USDA Zone 2 (-50 to -40 °F)

Life form: Deciduous shrub/sub-shrub

Occurrence in New Mexico: New Mexico native plant

Growing Conditions: Silver buffaloberry grows primarily in the northern Great Plains regions of Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) and the United States. (the Dakotas and Montana), but the range extends somewhat further south and east into Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. Its western range is largely confined to mountains, foothills, and canyons, extending west through Wyoming and Idaho to Oregon, and south through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. It grows in riparian areas (in floodplains, and along edges of wet meadows, streams, rivers, lakes and springs), and dry woodlands, foothills, open slopes and prairies. It often forms massive thickets near rivers. It is tolerant of temporary inundation, but will not survive prolonged flooding or areas with high water tables. It is scattered in New Mexico in canyon bottoms, meadows, and open slopes in the foothills, where it is generally found on dry, sandy soil. It also tolerates clay, calcareous soils, and any soils low in nutrients. It thrives with a moderate amount of water, but is extremely drought tolerant. It typically grows in full sun, but is tolerant of light shade and extreme cold. It is dioecious, and both male and female plants are required for fruit set. When working with the plant, heavy gloves are necessary to provide protection from the thorns. This thicket-forming shrub is good for a hedge, windbreak or screen, and for erosion control of slopes.

Description: Colonies of silver buffaloberry often form from spreading rhizomes. They may have trunks up to 4 inches in diameter at the base with rough, peeling bark. The tips of short branches usually have a single thorn. Paired, narrow lance-shaped leaves, 1¼-2 inches long and ⅓-⅔ inch wide grow from short stalks. New twigs and leaves are covered with silvery scales. Tiny (⅛-¼ inch) flowers emerge before the leaves from bud axils of short, one-year-old branches. Plants are dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants. Both have a short-tubular calyx with 4 triangular petal-like lobes. Male calyx lobes are strongly reflexed (bent backwards) and have 8 extended stamens. The female flower has a thick, club-like style. Small, bright red fleshy fruits are produced.