Lane Greer
Family
Ericaceae
Botanical Name
Gaultheria shallon
Plant Common Name
Salal
General Description
Few evergreen shrubs solve as many problems for woodland home sites surrounded by excessive shade and clay-rich soils. Salal is a Pacific Coast native, growing in the understory of woodlands from California north to Washington and over a larger part of Alaska. It adapts well to the long dry season of California and yet stands just as well in the rain soaked Seattle woods, proving its adaptability.
Large leathery, emerald leaves give a truly lush appearance to these shrubs. They flower in early spring offering lovely clusters of small, urn-shaped white or pale pink flowers typical of the heath family. These yield to purple, pea-sized edible fruits enjoyed by locals and a wide range of wildlife.
The soil conditions of its nativity often consist of heavy clay topped with a layer of leaf litter. These soils force a shallow root system requiring plants to feed off the organic nutrients concentrated where the layers meet. Salal should be grown in partial sun to deep shade, though plants can become rangy in heavier shade and may require a bit of shaping now and then to encourage denser growth.
This is an excellent choice for filling in problem areas beneath large old conifers just as they do beneath the legendary coastal redwood groves.
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
8 - 6
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
6 - 8
-
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Plant Type
Shrub
-
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial Shade
-
Height
1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m
-
Width
4'-10' / 1.2m - 3.0m
-
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring
-
Native To
North America, Northwestern United States, California
Growing Conditions
-
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
-
Soil Drainage
Average
-
Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
-
Growth Rate
Medium
-
Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
-
Habit
Spreading
-
Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
-
Flower Interest
Showy
-
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
-
Fruit Color
Purple
-
Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Dark Green
-
Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Dark Green
-
Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Dark Green
-
Foliage Color (Winter)
Green, Dark Green
-
Bark Color
Sienna
-
Fragrant Flowers
Yes
-
Fragrant Fruit
Yes
-
Fragrant Foliage
No
-
Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
-
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Repeat Bloomer
No
-
Showy Fruit
Yes
-
Edible Fruit
Yes
-
Showy Foliage
Yes
-
Foliage Texture
Coarse
-
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
-
Evergreen
Yes
-
Showy Bark
No
