Plant · GBIF taxon 2882758
salal
Gaultheria shallonAlso known as Shallon, Oregon Wintergreen
Salal forms dense, nearly impenetrable thickets throughout the understory of Pacific Northwest coniferous forests. Its tough, leathery, egg-shaped leaves remain a vibrant glossy green through the winter, providing vital shelter for forest floor creatures. In spring, sticky, pinkish-white, bell-shaped flowers dangle in elegant rows, eventually giving way to dark purple, hairy, berry-like fruits.
EvergreenShrubBerries
- diet
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
- family
- Ericaceae
- threats
- Habitat loss, over-harvesting for the floral industry, and severe drought
- life Span
- Several decades (can spread indefinitely via rhizomes)
LC
Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
- Identify by leaves: Look for thick, leathery, egg-shaped leaves with finely serrated edges that remain green year-round.
- Observe the flowers: Look for the urn-shaped, pinkish-white blossoms hanging in one-sided clusters during late spring.