Salal               gawl-THEE-ree-a SHA-lon

• Broadleaved evergreen shrub, less than 2 ft (0.6 m) tall in full sun and poor soil, but 4-10 ft (1.2-3 m) in shade and good soil, nearly equal spread, dense, developing into thickets, branches erect.  Leaves alternate, simple, oval-rounded, glossy bright green, 5-10 cm long, bristly serrate.  Flowers urn-shaped, white or pinkish, borne in late spring.  Fruit, 1 cm rounded, black, ripen in summer, edible but bland.  Birds attracted to the fruit.
• Sun or part shade, acid soils, good companion for rhododendron and ferns. Difficult to transplant.  Sold by florists as "lemon leaves".
• Hardy to USDA Zone 6      Native to western North America, from Alaska to California, where it is a common forest understory shrub.  Predominantly found at lower elevations due to its frost sensitivity.  David Douglas brought seed to Britain in 1828 so the plant could be used as a garden ornamental.
• Gaultheria: after Jean-François Gaulthier (c. 1708-1758), botanist and physician of Quebec. shallon: the native name
• Oregon State Univ. campus: west of Milam Hall.