Roundleaf Buffaloberry

shepherdia rotundifolia

The Roundleaf Buffaloberry is an exceptional evergreen shrub that brings a splash of shimmering silver to the rugged landscapes of the Colorado Plateau. Perfectly adapted to the arid, sun-baked environments of the American Southwest, this hardy plant thrives in sandy soils and sandstone crevices where few other species can survive. It plays a vital role in its ecosystem by stabilizing soils and providing shelter and sustenance for local wildlife. Historically, Native American tribes utilized this resilient plant, using its bitter but edible berries for food and various parts of the shrub for traditional crafts. Today, it stands as a symbol of desert survival, mesmerizing hikers and nature spotters with its unique, coin-shaped foliage that sparkles under the intense desert sun.

Habitat: Typically found clinging to sandstone cliffs, sandy slopes, and rocky ledges within desert shrublands and pinyon-juniper woodlands.

Appearance

This plant is a compact, rounded shrub typically standing 50 to 200 centimeters tall. It is easily identified by its thick, leathery, opposite leaves which are nearly perfectly circular to broadly oval in shape. Both the stems and leaves are covered in a dense coat of scurfy, star-shaped silver hairs that give the entire plant a distinctive pale, dusty-green or silvery-blue appearance. The leaf undersides often feature a warmer, yellowish or rusty-brown hue. During early spring, it produces tiny, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers tucked in the leaf axils, which eventually develop into small, silver-scurfy, berry-like drupels.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyElaeagnaceaeGenusShepherdia

Roundleaf Buffaloberry

Interesting facts

Although edible, the berries contain saponins which make them taste soapy and extremely bitter unless cooked or mixed with sugar.

The microscopic star-shaped scales covering the leaves act like tiny mirrors, giving the plant a metallic, glittering appearance in direct sunlight.

The specific epithet 'rotundifolia' literally translates to 'round-leafed', highlighting its distinctive coin-shaped foliage.

Special abilities

Partners with symbiotic Frankia bacteria in its roots to extract and convert atmospheric nitrogen, allowing it to flourish in nutrient-depleted desert soils.

Possesses dense, star-like leaf hairs that reflect intense desert sunlight, reducing leaf temperature and limiting vital water loss through transpiration.

Employs an extensive, tenacious root system that anchors firmly in sandstone cracks to tap into deep, scarce water reserves.