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'Ralph Dunlop' Silver Buffaloberry Seed

$20.00

Latin Name: Shepherdia argentea

DESCRIPTION

Family: Elaeagnaceae

Native Range: Canadian Prairie Provinces, United States Northern Great Plains.

Seed Source: Natural stand near Indian Head Saskatchewan.

Height and Spread: 4m x 2m (10 years).

Overview: The 'Ralph Dunlop' seed strain was developed for tree planting in the Canadian prairies. This strain originates from a natural stand of buffaloberry with above average berry size. The strain is named in honour of Ralph Dunlop a tree planting technician at the Indian Head Forest Nursery Station from 1924 to 1961. Buffaloberry is a wonderful plant recognized by many as one of the most nutritional berries in the plant kingdom. Seeds produce a mix of male and female plants.

Fruits: A red drupe-like achene 3 to 6mm long.

Average number of seeds/packet: 750

SEED TREATMENT / SOWING

Stratification: Stratify in moist sand (10% moisture) for 90 days at 5°C.

Ideal sowing time: Non-pretreated seed outdoors in late September, Stratified seed in spring

Sowing instructions: Outdoors - Sow 1 cm deep and 50 seeds/meter; Greenhouse - sow 3 seeds per cell 1 cm deep.

Growing conditions: The seed strain requires full sunlight and does not tolerate shade. It is a nitrogen fixer, extremely hardy, and adapted to low-quality, dry soils. Excellent for the farmstead, intercropping, reclamation, Eco-Buffers, and wildlife habitat plantings.

AGROFORESTRY VALUE

'Ralph Dunlop' Buffaloberry is an excellent choice for farmsteads, intercropping, reclamation, and wildlife habitat plantings. This seed strain was bred and developed specifically for temperate agroforestry. Buffaloberry stabilizes eroding soil, contributes nitrogen, and provides wildlife valuable cover, particularly upland game birds. Female plants can be used for fruit production.