~Salal~

  An attractive evergreen native with pale pink flowers in late spring.  Dark purple seedy, edible fruit follows.  Berries are a natural source of pectin.  In shady coastal areas Salal can grow over 6 feet.  In the full sun grow to about 18" tall.  Very drought tolerant.

Bloom:  Pale pink to white flowers in long clusters in late spring, followed by dark purple/black edible berries that will attract birds.

Habit:  18" tall and 36" wide at maturity in full sun.  Will grow 6'+ tall along the coast in shade.  Can spread indefinitely by underground runners.  

Exposure:  Full sun to mostly shade. 

Site:  Best in acidic, humus-rich, moist yet well drained soil in part shade. 

Spreading rate:  Medium. 

Uses:  Hardy, easy to care for,  west coast native.  Fits well with woodland gardens.  Can be used as a no maintenance border or edge to pathways and driveways.

Fertilizing:  Feed in early spring and again lightly in early fall.  Use a balanced fertilizer, preferably one containing a slow release nitrogen source.  Because of it's preference for acidity, using a plant food suitable for Rhododendrons or Azaleas would be fine.  Always follow the manufacturer's label recommendations when making any applications of fertilizer.   Be sure to rinse the fertilizer off the foliage.

Watering:  Regular summer water should be provided the first couple of years to ensure good plant establishment and to promote maximum growth.  While Salal will take dry conditions once established, it flourishes with a couple of deep waterings during the driest month's of late summer. 

Pruning:  Prune as you wish to control height and shape.

Foot traffic:  Not recommended.

Hardiness:  -40° to -30° F.