Gaultheria shallon

Gaultheria shallon or salal is a lovely BC native with leathery mid green, evergreen foliage on arching stems. The spring flowers hang like tiny white to pale pink bells and are followed by sweet edible blue-black berries long prized by First Nations peoples. Great for the woodland garden, in dry shade, and as long-lasting greenery in flower arrangements. Possibly hardy to zone 5. Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The fruit provides food for birds and other wildlife. Plants are a larval host for the brown elfin butterfly. Deer resistant.

This superb evergreen shrub native to the western United States is beautiful year-round creating spreading 3-6' thickets (perfect for birds) with large, deep-green, leathery leaves on red-stalks, its sweet spring into summer pink urn-shaped flowers are followed by very tasty blue-black berries, the berries were an important food source for Native Americans and are wonderful as a trail snack or in pies or jams. S-PSh/M

A Pacific Northwest forest shrub, Salal's landscape potential is often overlooked. Shiny, long-lasting leaves, showy flower. Low-maintenance landscape border. Prune low every 3-5 years. Edible fruit.

Salal is a spreading evergreen shrub growing to 1.5' tall and 4' wide. It has dark blue, edible berries that have a unique, albeit bland flavor. Salal berries were once a significant source of food among Native Americans. Salal is versatile in that it can thrive in both sunny and shady conditions. In moist, coastal climates, salal tends to form deep thickets. Salal can be used for erosion control, ground cover, hedge, or massing. In your backyard, once it is established, it can live off very little water. Its shiny green leaves and white and pink urn shaped flowers (April - July) go great in floral and garden arrangements. Native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. It's rambling habit helps stabilize slopes. Birds enjoy the berries. Larval host for brown elfin butterfly. The fruit is a source of food for many animals. Gaultheria shallon berries were a significant food resource for native people, who both ate them fresh and dried them into cakes. They were also used as a sweetener, and the Haida used them to thicken salmon eggs. Found in forest understory, coastal woods or brushy places. Communitites located in Mixed Evergreen Forest, Redwood Forest, Closed-cone Pine Forest, Northern Coastal Scrub Between 0 and 2,624 feet.

Mounding evergreen shrub to 4' with vigorous stolons and red stems carrying broad, sharply pointed, dark green leaves. Racemes of pink flowers in late spring and early summer are followed by edible purple berries resembling huckleberries, but with a bland flavor. Hardy to 10F or below. Western North America (Alaska to California.)

Showy white flowers. Black edible berries.

Evergreen ground cover with shiny round leaves, white urn-shaped flowers and black-blue fruit. Variable in height from 1' to 5' or more on the coast.

A native to the Pacific Northwest. Use in shade or partial shade. Large, dark green leaves and purple-black berries make it an impressive groundcover.