fauntleroy tree walk
Salal
lushootseed name:
This species is called the “laughing fruit” by indigenous peoples, perhaps due to its abundance on the landscape and the happiness it would bring to those harvesting its bounty.
latin name:
gaultheria shallon
Habitat
This plant can be found from the coast of British Columbia all the way to California.You can even find this species in eastern Asia and the western foothills of the Rockies. It prefers soils at mid elevations, hiding in the shade of conifer canopies towering overhead.
Identification
growth habit
Salal is a shrub, dwelling from ankle to knee-height.
leaves
Egg-shaped with a slightly pointed tip and rounded teeth on the margins. These leaves feel waxy and stay green all year-round.
flower
White, bell-shaped flowers dangle from the plant’s hairy stems. Look closely to see the pink and white hairs peeking out.
fruits
Colored pink-red when new and turning purple-black when ripe. They resemble a rounded blueberry. Look at the bottom of the druping berries to find a star-pattern.
Ecology
Salal is a very important source of shelter and food for many forest animals. Because this shrub stays green year-round it provides great thicket cover for birds and small mammals.
When deer and elk roamed this land more frequently, they would use this plant as a winter forage when few other sources of green are available. Berries ripen july-september, providing a scrumptious food source for band-tailed pigeons, Townsend’s chipmunks, Douglas squirrels, and at once even nourished resident black bears! In march-july flowers provide a spectacular source of nectar for hummingbirds, bees, and flies. Listen for the buzz of our beloved pollinators near these shrubs in these spring to summer months.
Salal plants thrive in the shade of Douglas fir trees, growing taller with more cover. Without this shade, plants would be smaller and less productive for the species that rely so heavily on them.
Ethnobotany
Rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, omegas, fiber, and vitamin C; this plant is a powerhouse for the immune system. Native tribes have used this species for just that purpose, treating common colds and fever.
Leaves were grinded up and applied to sores and burns to boost healing. Fruits have been grinded up and used to make pink to purple dye or mixed with salmon eggs to make orange dye.
A classic use for these berries was to mix with elderberries, currant berries, and whale or fish oil to make calorie-rich “pemmican” cakes. Because salal was very dense throughout the land, many pounds of berries could be harvested.
Now, salal is at risk of overharvest; generating billions of dollars in floral trade. This sacred food source for people and animals alike could vanish from the land within our time.