A few days ago the first
Shepherdia argentea, or Silver Buffaloberry, began germinating. This native fruit has the potential to grow to almost 20 feet in height with a spreading crown of equal size - much larger than its native cousin
Shepherdia canadensis (Russet Buffaloberry). The fruit, a red fleshy drupe with a variable taste, was used historically by several Native American peoples as food, medicine, and dye. Many report that the fruit is bitter, but this is attributed to the presence of saponins; frost reportedly causes the sugar content to increase, improving the flavor. In any case, Silver Buffaloberry is drought-tolerant and, with pruning and shaping, can make a beautiful large shrub or small tree with silver-green leaves. Of course, like many native fruits,
Shepherdia argentea is armed with impressive thorns. The fruit is mealy and considered edible, not necessarily delicious. However, its value from an ethnobotanical perspective (not to mention its drought-tolerance) makes the Silver Buffaloberry well worth the time and effort to grow it.
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Shepherdia argentea. Photo taken at Chief Whitecap Park
in Saskatchewan, Canada by SriMesh. |
This morning I also noticed the first of the
Ribes aureum, or Golden Currant, sprouting. I hope to see more germinating in the next few days. This is another native fruit; the clove-scented yellow flowers are the source of its common name.
Ribes aureum is considered one of the most delicious of the wild fruits adapted to our region. Unlike
Shepherdia argentea,
Ribes aureum is thornless. Though tolerant of moderate shade, it prefers moist soil in full sun. Typically three to six feet tall, the Golden Currant can grow even taller under optimal conditions. The berries, appearing on short racemes from the leaf axils (the base of the leaf at the stem), ripen from mid to late summer, turning a deep black or black-purple color. I am looking forward to establishing a small thicket of Golden Currant this year!
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| Ribes aureum. Photo by Stan Shebs. |
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