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Salal

About Salal

Salal is an evergreen shrub in the heather family that is native to western North America. It is found as an understory shrub at lower elevations. The leathery, glossy green oval leaves are evergreen and used by florists in flower arrangements. The clusters of drooping urn-shaped white-to-pinkish flowers appear in spring to early summer and are followed by purple berries that are eaten by birds.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Gaultheria shallon

Genus

Gaultheria

Family

Ericaceae

Order

Ericales

Also known as

Shallon and Gaultheria

How to care for Salal

💦 Water

How often to water your Salal

Salal needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Salal in your home

Salal may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Salal in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Salal

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Salal: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Salal after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Salal

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Salal can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!

How to Grow Salal →

Benefits of Growing Salal →

Common Salal Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Salal →

💦 Water Needs

Salal prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Salal Water Frequency →

Salal Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Salal may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Salal Light Requirements →

Salal Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Salal is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Salal does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Salal →

Best Pots for Salal →

When and How to Successfully Repot Salal →

What Are Healthy Salal Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Salal grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Salal →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Salal grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Salal Lifecycle →

Salal Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Salal →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Salal can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 6a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Salal Temperature Tolerance →

Salal Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Salal →

When to Plant Salal →

How to Plant Salal →

Where to Plant Salal →

Winter Care for Salal →

Best Companion Plants for Salal →

Is Salal a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Salal, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.