Silver Buffaloberry

Silver Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) is a rugged, silvery-leaved shrub perfect for bringing toughness and character to challenging landscapes. Hyper native to Utah County, this shrub once grew abundantly along the Wasatch Front. In fact, A Utah Flora notes that it used to be found along Geneva Road in Utah Valley, though it hasn’t been seen there for decades. Its disappearance from that area makes it an especially meaningful choice for gardeners who want to help reintroduce and preserve locally native species.

With shimmering foliage, spiny branches, and bright red fall berries, Silver Buffaloberry offers ornamental beauty and ecological value in equal measure. Its early spring blooms, though small, provide a vital nectar source for pollinators when little else is in flower, while the berries that follow are a boon to both wildlife and traditional foragers. Tough, drought-hardy, and low-maintenance, this shrub thrives in hot, dry Utah soils where many other plants fail. It’s ideal for hedges, barriers, or naturalized plantings, and its resilience against deer and dry conditions makes it a dependable landscape ally.