Ericaceae
Gaultheria shallon

Salal

Vigorous erect shrub to 4 ft. tall, forming dense impenetrable thickets. Stems hairy. Leaves glossy, evergreen, thick, leathery, alternate. Flowers urn-shaped, white or pale pink, hanging individually from one side of stem tips in large clusters. Berries dark blue to purple-black, edible but rather dry, a food source for many animals. Grows in rocky bluffs, conifer forests, at low to mid-elevations. Florists often use this plant; be sure to look for it among flowers in bouquets.

  • Rarity: Common
  • Flowering Time: Late Spring, Early Summer
  • Life Cycle: Perennial
  • Height: 1--3 feet
  • Habitat: Coastal, West-Side Forest
  • Found In: Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, N Cascades Np, West Gorge
  • Native: Yes

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