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Shepherdia canadensis

Shrub

HomeShrubShepherdia canadensis

Calcareous rocks, banks and sandy shores, usually in partial shade.

Family: Elaeagnaceae
Height: 2.5 m / 9 ft
Sun, Semi-shade
Light, Medium and Heavy Soil
Dry to Moist

Plant Rating

Edible Uses: 3 of 5
Medicinal Uses: 2 of 5
Other Uses: 3 of 5

Native Habitat

Buffalo Berry, Russet buffaloberry, Canada Buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis native habitat is Calcareous rocks, banks and sandy shores, usually in partial shade.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit can also be dried and used like currants. A tart but pleasant flavour even before a frost, it becomes sweeter after frosts. Another report says that the fruit is bitter and is dried, smoked or pressed into cakes. The fruit was a favourite treat of the North American Indians, they would beat it in an equal quantity of water until a foam with a consistency of beaten eggs was formed. It was important that the berries were not allowed to come into contact with anything greasy since this would prevent it becoming foamy. The foam would then be flavoured with a sweet food such as cooked quamash bulbs or other fruits and then served as a special treat in feasts etc. The taste is bitter sweet and is not always enjoyed the first time it is eaten, though it normally grows on one. Nowadays sugar is used to sweeten it and the confection is called 'Indian ice cream'. The fruit should be used in moderation due to the saponin content. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter.

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