Salal
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| Gaultheria shallon Pursh |
Salal (Gaultheria shallon, Ericaceae) is a leathery-leaved shrub native to western North America. Its dark blue berries are edible, with a unique though bland flavor. Salal berries were a significant food resource for the native people.
Locally, salal berries are made into jams and jellies, often combined with Oregon-grape because the tartness of the latter makes up for the mild sweetness of salal.
Salal is very tolerant of both open sun and shady conditions. In coastal areas it can form deep, nearly impenetrable thickets.
In the Pacific Northwest, the harvesting of Salal is the heart of a large export of evergreens in which it is sold to florists worldwide for use in floral arrangements.
