Shepherdia argentea

Shepherdia argentea, or silver buffaloberry, similar to sea buckthorn, is an excellent deciduous bush for informal or defensive hedges, ideal in a garden that leaves room for nature. Fast-growing, dense, and thorny, it forms a beautiful mass of soft green-grey that shimmers with silver reflections in the wind. Female plants are particularly decorative in summer with their red fruit reminiscent of currants. These berries are edible and can be transformed into jellies or jams. They are also a delight for some birds. Extremely resistant and undemanding, the silver buffaloberry adapts to all climates, even in coastal areas. It only requires a very sunny exposure. To obtain fruit, the presence of a nearby male pollinating plant is essential.

Shepherdia argentea belongs to the Elaeagnaceae family, the most well-known representative of which is Elaeagnus. It is a botanical species native to North America, found from Canada to Texas. In the wild, it is found in meadows, always in the sun, on different types of well-drained soil. Although not a legume, nodules carrying nitrogen-fixing bacteria develop on its roots, allowing it to thrive in difficult environments. The silver buffaloberry forms a bush about 3 metres in all directions, with a bushy and well-branched habit. Its branches are flexible and very thorny, covered with silver scales when young. The foliage is deciduous, developing in spring and turning yellow in autumn before falling. The leaves are oblong and lanceolate, opposite on the branches, measuring 2 to 6 cm in length. They are green-grey on the upper side and covered with a silver fur on the underside. Flowering occurs from March to May depending on the climate, on bare branches, before the leaves appear. The tiny but numerous female flowers, are yellowish-green, bell-shaped and have no petals. After pollination by a male plant, the flowers transform into small ovoid berries measuring less than 1 cm. They ripen between July and September depending on the climate. Their vermilion red colour is perfectly highlighted by the silver foliage. These fruits are edible but have a sour and bitter taste.

Highly decorative in winter thanks to its fruiting, this relative of the Sea Buckthorn can be used in the garden in the same way. The Silver Buffaloberry is perfect for a vibrant hedge in a naturalistic garden, with other nectar-rich species that are beneficial to bees and birds. It naturally pairs well with the Russian olive and sea buckthorns, which have the same cultivation requirements. The Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), with its early yellow flowering and beautiful autumn colours, also produces small edible fruits. Being nectar-rich, it is also a particularly useful plant for bees, making it ideal in a hedgerow. Amelanchier is also a good companion with its magnificent white spring blossoms, followed by decorative and edible berries. In a dry Mediterranean garden, it can be paired with the azarole hawthorn or pomegranate.