Common Name: Shallon

General Information

Gaultheria shallon is a creeping, evergreen shrub with erect to partially erect stems; it usually grows 50 - 200cm tall but can reach 300cm. Growing from a rhizomatous rootstock, the plant forms a dense thicket of stems[, , ]..
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is often grown as an ornamental, where it can be used to make a tall groundcover in moist, shady places. The evergreen leaves are used commercially in floral arrangements.
A vigorous suckering plant, it can be invasive when growing in good conditions. It has escaped from cultivation in a number of countries, especially the UK, where it can form dense thickets in acid soils which prevent other more valuable pasture species from establishing[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Western N. America - Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California

Habitat

Grows on sandy or peaty soils in shady positions from the coast up to elevations of 800 metres[]. Woods and transition zones, moist soils, rocky or sandy cliffs, coastal bluffs; at elevations up to 1,300 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.20 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Gaultheria shallon is hardy to about -20°c when dormant, though young growth can be damaged by late frosts[, ].
Prefers a moist but not boggy humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade[, ], but it can also succeed in full sun. A peat and moisture loving species, it requires a lime-free soil[, ]. Succeeds in nutrient-poor soils[]. One report says that it can succeed in dry shade[] and another that it can withstand considerable drought once it is established[, ]. Prefers a neutral to slightly acid soil, tolerating a pH as low as 4[].
A vigorous suckering plant, it can be invasive when growing in good conditions, but responds to cutting back[, ]. It also succeeds when planted under trees[, ].
Plants are not usually killed by fire - top growth is killed, but the plant generally resprouts freely from the roots[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[, , , ]. Sweet and juicy with a pleasant flavour[, , ], it makes good raw eating[]. The fruit can also be made into preserves, pies, drinks etc or be dried and used like raisins[]. The black-purple fruit is about 10mm in diameter[, ] and is produced over a period of several weeks in late summer[].

A pleasant tea is made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

A poultice of the toasted, pulverized leaves has been applied to cuts[]. A poultice of the chewed leaves has been applied to burns and sores[].
The leaves have been chewed to dry the mouth[].
An infusion of the leaves have been used as a stomach tonic and a treatment for diarrhoea, coughs, TB etc[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A ground cover plant for a shady position under trees, spreading slowly by means of suckers[]. It should be spaced about 90cm apart each way[].
This species has been used as a vegetative cover in disturbed areas because it can spread aggressively[].
Once established, the plant spreads aggressively and is well-suited for use as a ground cover on erosive banks, roadcuts, highway right-of-ways, and other types of reclaimed ground. It can also aid in stabilizing coastal dunes and in protecting vulnerable watersheds[].
The plant has been used as a hedge where it can develop into a dense barrier that can exclude animals such as deer[].

Other Uses

A purple dye is obtained from the fruit[]. It is dark green[].
A greenish-yellow dye is obtained from the infused leaves[].

Propagation

The seed requires a period of cold stratification. Pre-chill for 4 - 10 weeks and then surface sow in a lime-free compost in a shady part of the greenhouse and keep the compost moist[]. The seed usually germinates well, usually within 1 - 2 months at 20°c, but the seedlings are liable to damp off. It is important to water them with care and to ensure that they get plenty of ventilation. Watering them with a garlic infusion can also help to prevent damping of[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are about 25mm tall and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter[]. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. The seedlings are susceptible to spring frosts so might need some protection for their first few years outdoors. The leaves remain very small for the first few years[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood 3 - 6cm long, mid summer in a frame in a shady position. They form roots in late summer or spring[]. A good percentage usually take.
Division in spring when new growth is about 7cm tall. Divided plants can be rather slow to get established[]. We have found that it is best to pot up the clumps and grow them on in a shady position in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.