Editing Shepherdia argentea (section)

== Cultivation ==

The native range is the prairie and parkland country of the Canadian Prairie Provinces and the northern Great Plains, most often along waterways, wet meadows, floodplains and terraces, with drier, gravelly stands farther west; annual precipitation over most of the range runs about 13–23 in.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

=== Soil and water ===

The plant is at home on most well-drained soils and tolerates non-saline to slightly saline, calcareous (high-pH) ground; it grows on loam, sandy loam, clay loam, clay and gravelly substrates, and tolerates poorly drained soil and some seasonal flooding, but not prolonged flooding or permanently high water tables.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup> The species is drought-hardy and, as a nitrogen-fixer, grows on poor soils without added nitrogen.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup> In a controlled pot experiment, two-year-old seedlings held at up to 600 mmol/L sodium chloride for 30 days survived with measurable declines in leaf water potential, chlorophyll and potassium at the higher concentrations, and the authors concluded the species has high salt tolerance; those levels are experimental stress tests, not a soil-salt threshold for gardens.<sup id="cite_ref-7">[[#cite_note-7|[7]]]</sup>

=== Sun and humidity ===

The plant prefers full sun and tolerates light shade, and in its native range is often found on northwest- to east-facing slopes.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup> The silvery-scaled foliage and open, well-aired habit suit exposed sunny positions, and the species holds up under the low rainfall and strong winds of the high plains.<sup>[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup>

=== Seasonal changes ===

The shrub follows a temperate four-season rhythm: it flowers in spring (late April in the northern plains), sets fruit from late May, and ripens it by late summer; fully red berries are considered ripe, and ripe or dried fruit can persist on the shrub into the following spring.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup> Regional flowering runs about April–May in California, Nevada, Utah and Saskatchewan, May–June on the Great Plains, and May–July in Wyoming.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup> The plant is winter-hardy to USDA zone 3; the extension profile lists zones 3a–9b, and the conservation-planting record gives hardiness to about −40 °F (−40 °C).<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-6|[6]]]</sup>