# Canadian buffalo-berry (*Shepherdia canadensis*) The Canadian buffalo-berry is a small shrub that grows berries loved by birds and other animals. Its bright red berries are not only pretty but also tasty for some creatures! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Canadian buffalo-berry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Shepherdia_canadensis_38574.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shepherdia_canadensis_38574.JPG) ## Appearance The Canadian buffalo-berry is a medium-sized shrub with distinctive oval leaves that are dull green above and silvery-scaly underneath. Its tiny, yellowish-brown flowers give way to bright red or orange-red berries, often speckled, that cling to the branches. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Elaeagnaceae - **Genus:** Shepherdia ## Interesting facts - Its tiny flowers are so small, you might need a magnifying glass to see them clearly! - Native peoples traditionally mixed the berries with fat and sugar to make a special 'Indian ice cream.' - This tough plant can grow high up on mountains and even in parts of the chilly Arctic! - When you crush its berries, they create a frothy pink foam, like a bubbly dessert! ## Special abilities - **Nutrient Booster:** Canadian buffalo-berry can team up with tiny soil helpers to create its own food, allowing it to thrive in poor soils. - **Tough Survivor:** Canadian buffalo-berry has deep roots that help it find water in dry places and can withstand very cold winters. - **Foamy Shield:** Canadian buffalo-berry berries contain natural compounds that make them taste bitter and foamy, deterring some hungry animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-400 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Grizzly bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grizzly-bear) (*Ursus arctos*) — A favorite food source for grizzly bears. - **Eats:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — Birds like waxwings feast on its bright berries. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer often browse on its leaves and twigs. - **Eaten by:** [Moose](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moose) (*Alces alces*) — Moose browse on the foliage, especially in winter. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not eat berries unless an adult says they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Canadian buffalo-berry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Canadian buffalo-berry? 100-400 cm ### How wide does Canadian buffalo-berry spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Canadian buffalo-berry? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Canadian buffalo-berry bloom? Spring ### Is Canadian buffalo-berry edible? Yes ### Is Canadian buffalo-berry toxic? None ### What is Canadian buffalo-berry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Chicken Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Devil's Kitchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/devils-kitchen) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Glen Haven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-haven) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Kincaid Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kincaid-park) — Alaska, US · Park - [Leadville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leadville-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Mormon Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mormon-row-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District [View all places to see Canadian buffalo-berry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/canadian-buffalo-berry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Canadian buffalo-berry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canadian-buffalo-berry)