A field trial was conducted to determine if containerized silverberry (Elaeagnus commutata) and buffalo-berry (Shepherdia canadensis), inoculated with pot culture soil containing vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Frankia, would outperform uninoculated seedlings when outplanted on oil sands tailings for two growing seasons. The effect of peat versus peat plus mineral soil treatment of the tailings sand on shrub growth and symbiont development was also addressed. Mortality over the first winter was higher for inoculated seedlings than for uninoculated seedlings. After 1 year, shoot height and weight, root weight, nodule weight, and mycorrhizal root length of the inoculated silverberry were approximately two, five, four, six and five times greater, respectively, than those measured in the uninoculated treatment. The same parameters, respectively, for buffalo-berry were approximately one and one-half, four, two, six and two times greater for the inoculated seedlings than for their uninoculated counterparts. The superior growth of the inoculated seedlings was continued over the 2nd year. Soil amendment effects on plant growth and symbiont development over the 1st year were minimal for silverberry but significant for buffalo-berry. Shoot productivity of both shrub species was highly correlated with nodule status.