Bloomipedia
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Photo: Gavin Slater via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Salal

Gaultheria shallon

Salal (Gaultheria shallon) is a shrub in the Ericaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Salal is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

4states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
28,208U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Oregon, Washington

Quick look

Gaultheria shallon is an evergreen shrub in the heather family (Ericaceae), native to western North America. Common names include salal, shallon, or gaultheria.

  • It belongs to the Ericaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 4 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Washington and Oregon. NatureServe
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 6 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 14,184 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #2 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 8,739 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #2 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,236 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WashingtonNativeMay–July14,184
OregonNativeMay–July8,739

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Fruits can be used in jams and jellies or eaten raw but are rather bland.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records salal in 4 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington.

Washington counties with USDA records: Asotin, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, Yamhill.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Salal a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 7.0 and winter lows down to 7 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
5.5 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
7 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
200
Annual precipitation range
55 to 125 inches
Minimum root depth
12 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring, Summer, Fall
Fruit or seed
Purple · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability
Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for GASH. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 56 counties across 4 states; the most are in Washington (22), Oregon (20), California (12).

Other Gaultheria on Bloomipedia (2): Eastern teaberry (wintergreen), Creeping snowberry.

More from the Ericaceae family (55 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Ghost pipe, Rhododendrons and azaleas, Striped wintergreen, Mountain laurel, Woodland pinedrops, Pinesap, Trailing arbutus (mayflower), Bearberry.

More Washington flowers

Ghost pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

Ghost pipe

Monotropa uniflora

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🌼 Blooms in WA: June–August
Pink mountainheath (Phyllodoce empetriformis)

Pink mountainheath

Phyllodoce empetriformis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: June–August
Pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys)

Pinesap

Monotropa hypopitys

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🌼 Blooms in WA: June–August

Sources