Thorny silver-leaved shrub of the North American prairies and northern plains. Tart red berries are an Indigenous food source, traditionally sweetened after the first frost.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 2–7 | −45.6 °C to −12.2 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H7 | down to −20 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 2–7 | −40 °C to −7 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 1–3 | −15 °C to 0 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Fixes nitrogen via Frankia bacteria (actinorhizal symbiosis) rather than the Rhizobium of legumes — a non-legume nitrogen fixer
- Extreme cold hardiness (-50 °C) and drought tolerance — workhorse plant for the harshest prairie shelterbelts
- Thorny growth makes it a useful living fence as well as windbreak
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Buffalo berry — Silver against your zones