Salal

(Gaultheria shallon )                                       

Its genus name pronounced Gawl-THER-ee-uh  shal-LAWN, Salal is also known as Oregon Wintergreen.  The name comes from Dr. Hugues Jean Gaulthier, a Canadian Botanist and Physician.  Shallon is the name commonly used in Britain where it was introduced—it is derived from its native name, Salal.

Salal grows slowly, but will grow to over 6 ft (2m) in shady conditions.  Plants in the sun usually grow only to about 3 ft (1m).  It spreads by sprouting from underground stems. It is one of the most common understory shrubs in our second-growth coniferous forests.  

Salal berries were eaten fresh by natives and mashed and dried into cakes.  The fruit is sweet, but the texture is somewhat mealy.  Today, the berries are sometimes made into jams or jellies often in combination with other berries.  Natives used salal leaves to line cooking pits.

The fruit is eaten by many kinds of birds and mammals including the Douglas Squirrel.  Hummingbirds will visit Salal flowers.