Salal
Gaultheria shallon
Dusky berries the Coast Salish dried into cakes; loves forest shade.
Hardiness: zones 6 to 8
Light: part shade
Size: about 4 ft tall, 5 ft wide
Harvest: August to September
From: Pacific coast
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, wildlife.
Native to: Pacific Northwest, California, Western Canada, Alaska. Hardy in zones 6 to 8.
The story
Salal was the most important fruit of the Northwest coast: the Coast Salish, Haida and Nuu-chah-nulth dried the berries into cakes by the ton, pressed them with oolichan oil, and served them at feasts. David Douglas sent it to England in 1826 as an ornamental, and florists now cut its leaves.
Planting
Part shade to deep shade, acid, drained soil with lots of organic matter; a forest-floor plant. Plant in spring; it spreads slowly into a thicket 3 to 6 feet tall.
Growing
Keep moist the first two years, mulch with conifer needles, and leave it alone. Shear if it gets leggy.
Harvest and use
Berries ripen dark purple in late summer; sweet-mild with a hint of spice. Eat fresh, dry, or cook into jam, often with Oregon grape.
What to watch for
Nothing serious; slow to establish and dislikes lime.
See if Salal fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home