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Key characteristics

Family: Ericaceae
Height: 2 to 5 feet
Width: 3 to 8 feet
Flower color: White to pink, urn-shaped
Foliage color: Dark glossy green, leathery texture
Bloom time: Spring (March to June)
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Water: Dry to moist soil
Maintenance: Low; forms dense thickets
Growing zone: USDA zones 6 to 8
Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and various birds; berries provide food for birds, squirrels, chipmunks, foxes, coyotes, and bears

Shrubs

Gaultheria shallon

Salal

Gaultheria shallon is a versatile evergreen shrub native to the Pacific Northwest. It is known for its glossy, leathery, dark green leaves that add year-round interest. During late spring to early summer, the plant produces clusters of delicate, bell-shaped flowers that range from white to light pink, offering a subtle charm to shaded garden areas. These blooms give way to edible berries that mature to a deep purple by late summer and fall, providing both visual appeal and a food source for wildlife.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Dry to moist soil

Bloom time

Spring (March to June)

Find this plant

Works well in

Shade Gardens
Woodland Gardens
Under Trees
Native Gardens

Companion plants

Skimmia · Japanese maple · Ajuga · Autumn fern · Snowdrops · Hellebore

Design tip

Salal’s spreading habit makes it especially useful for knitting together naturalistic plantings. Allow it to form broad colonies beneath trees or along slopes, where its evergreen foliage can create a continuous lower layer with minimal visual interruption.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)