© Greg Rabourn
ripe salal berries (enlarge)

Gaultheria shallon

Evergreen Shrub

Height: 5 ft.

Availability: High

Growing ease: Medium

Moisture req.: dry - moist

Exposure req.: part shade - shade

Plant description:

The single best ground cover for northwest gardens, salal is a do it all plant. Long recognised as one of the best foliage plants for flower arranging, it is also one of the most adaptable in the native repertoir. It can be grown short, if pruned back, hedged into wave like drifts, allowed to grow rampant and irregular to five feet or more. It will also grow where almost nothing else will, in deep understory forest groves, moist or dry soils, in full sun or deep shade. It does have a harder time in full sun, but if well watered or near the coast, it can survive. It does not transplant well, but it is generally available at garden centers.

Keywords: birds, blue, broad, broad leaf (evergreen), butterflies, drought tolerant, edible, fire-resistant , fruit, pink, spreading, white

Articles that mention this plant: Deer resistant plants, Native plants for deep shade

Plans that use this plant:Dry, part shade, Dry, shady, Marine (salt water) shoreline, Moist, part shade