Russet Buffaloberry

Did you know

• Its berries were whipped with water by Plains Indigenous peoples to create 'Indian ice cream,' a frothy, bitter-sweet treat.
• The plant fixes nitrogen in the soil through a symbiotic relationship with Frankia bacteria in its root nodules.
• Grizzly bears rely heavily on buffaloberry patches as a high-calorie food source before winter hibernation.
• The tiny inconspicuous flowers appear before the leaves and are pollinated by early spring insects.
• The russet-brown scaly hairs covering the leaves and young stems give the plant its 'russet' common name.

Color meanings

Uses

• edible fruit
• soil improvement
• wildlife habitat
• native landscape restoration