Gaultheria shallon aka Salal

Gaultheria shallon, also known as salal or shallon, is an evergreen shrub found in western North America. It belongs to the heather family, Ericaceae, and has large, leathery, round to oval shaped leaves that are dull green, turning reddish in winter. The plant has spreading or erect, hairy stems and produces whitish to pale pink, urn-shaped flowers that hang along reddish or salmon racemes in upper leaf axils. In the Squamish language, the fruits are called t’áḵa7 and the bush is called t’áḵa7áy̓. Salal is commonly used by florists in flower arrangements because of its glossy green oval leaves, and it is found as an understory shrub at lower elevations. The plant produces clusters of drooping urn-shaped white-to-pinkish flowers in spring to early summer, which are followed by purple berries that are consumed by birds.