Gaultheria shallon

Gaultheria shallon is an evergreen shrub with dark green foliage, pretty, white-pinkish and bell-shaped flowers in spring, and decorative fruits that turn from purple to black in autumn. With an average height of 1.20m (3 ft 11 in), it spreads in width over time through natural layering. Intolerant to limestone, Gaultheria (or salal) grows in neutral to acidic soil, sufficiently humus-rich, remaining moist in summer but well-drained. Resistant to cold, this shrub grows in semi-shade, on the edge or under the cover of trees that will protect it from the sun and provide it with a damp atmosphere.

Gaultheria shallon is a plant of the Ericaceae family (the heathers) and more precisely of the Vaccinioideae subfamily (the blueberries). This lineage is evident through all the attributes of this shrub, from its soil requirements, its typical, bell-shaped flowers with fused-petals, to its small black fruits resembling blueberries, edible but tasteless.

Native to the west coast of North America, Gaultheria forms large vegetative carpets in Californian conifer forests subject to coastal fog. This natural habitat explains the preference of this shrub for freshness and its sensitivity to summer drought. The Gaultheria is a shrub with dense foliage that forms large carpets on the ground and can become invasive.

In our gardens, the Gaultheria is primarily used for its ornamental qualities. Its ovoid evergreen leaves, light green when they emerge, become dark when mature. The flowering occurs in May-June, in the form of clusters of small bells about one centimeter in size, with a beautiful white-pink colour enhanced by red petioles. Purple fruits follow the flowers and turn black in late summer and autumn. The shrub reaches a height of 1.20m (maximum 1.50m (4 ft 11 in)) with a spread of 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) or more, as it spreads through natural layering, with the branches touching the ground eventually rooting, to form a new clump. It thus forms a dense vegetative carpet covering the ground.
The Gaultheria is not a difficult plant as long as it is given a suitable location, under the branches of trees, and especially if its edaphic (soil) requirements are met. It needs freshness, especially in summer, but not excessive moisture, especially in winter. It does not tolerate limestone and can only be planted in neutral to acidic soil. Hardy up to -20 °C (-4 °F), it does not fear winter frosts in well-drained soil.

With its wild appearance, Gaultheria shallon will perfectly integrate into a natural garden setting. Birch trees planted in groups will provide the shade it needs and create a particularly aesthetic decorative bark scene. The superb Himalayan birch, grown alongside Betula albosinensis 'Fascination' - which well deserves its name with its beige-orange bark - or the 'Shiloh Splash' birch with its beautifully variegated white foliage, will thus form a small grove of reasonable size and compatible with most gardens. The Gaultheria will remain low enough so as not to hide these decorative barks and will cover the ground at the foot of these beautiful small trees.
In milder climates, Erica canaliculata, with dimensions comparable to the Gaultheria and sharing the same cultural requirements, will create a wild scene under the light cover of tall trees.