Gaultheria shallon
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- gol-THEER-ee-uh SHAL-lon
- Description
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Salal is an evergreen shrub in the heather family that is native to western North America and will develop thickets that make a good bird habitat. It is found as an understory shrub in the coastal NW at lower elevations. The form is erect to prostrate and stems root if growing on the ground.
The leathery, glossy green oval leaves are evergreen and are used by florists in flower arrangements. The clusters of drooping urn-shaped white-to-pinkish flowers appear in spring to early summer and are followed by purple berries that are eaten by birds.
This shrub grows in partial to full shade in moist acidic soils but is adaptable to other sites. It may not be a good choice for the east due to our very different growing conditions. Use as a ground cover in shady to partly shady naturalized woodland sites.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gaultheria
- Species:
- shallon
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used extensively in the floral industry for long lasting greenery in bouquets.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Alaska to western U.S.A.
- Wildlife Value:
- Larval host for brown elfin butterfly. Birds and mammals eat the berries, deer browse the leaves.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Screening
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- Fruits can be used in jams and jellies or eaten raw but are rather bland.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are small, hairy, rough-surfaced blue-black round berries. Birds love them.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Urn
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Description:
- One-side raceme of drooping urn-shaped white-to-pinkish flowers in spring to early summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-4” long x 1-3” wide thick shiny deep green leaves with bristly serrate margins. They are oval to round in shape. Undersides rough and lighter in color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- Grayish-brown mature bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Young shoots are red. Mature bark and twigs are grayish-brown and smooth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Shade Garden
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
