Gaultheria shallon
| Gaultheria shallon | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-6.5 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 4' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Speed: | Moderate |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Gaultheria shallon (common name: shallon)
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[1]. 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[K]. 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[K]. 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[2].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood 3 - 6cm long, July/August in a frame in a shady position. They form roots in late summer or spring[1]. A good percentage usually take.
Division in spring when new growth is about 7cm tall. Divided plants can be rather slow to get established[3]. 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.
Cultivation: Prefers a moist but not boggy humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade[2][3], but it can also succeed in full sun. A peat and moisture loving species, it requires a lime-free soil[2][3]. One report says that it can succeed in dry shade[4] and another that it can withstand considerable drought once it is established[5].
Plants are hardy to about -20°c[6].
A vigorous suckering plant, it can be invasive when growing in good conditions, but responds to cutting back[7][8]. It also succeeds when planted under trees[8][9].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[10].
Range: Western N. America - British Columbia to California. Occasionally naturalized in Britain.
Habitat: Grows on sandy or peaty soils in shady positions from the coast up to elevations of 800 metres[11].
Edibility: Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[12][13][14][15]. Sweet and juicy with a pleasant flavour[2][16][17], it makes good raw eating[K]. The fruit can also be made into preserves, pies, drinks etc or be dried and used like raisins[15]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[10] and is produced over a period of several weeks in late summer[K].
A pleasant tea is made from the leaves[17].
Medicinal: A poultice of the toasted, pulverized leaves has been applied to cuts[18]. A poultice of the chewed leaves has been applied to burns and sores[18].
The leaves have been chewed to dry the mouth[18].
An infusion of the leaves have been used as a stomach tonic and a treatment for diarrhoea, coughs, TB etc[18].
Usage: A purple dye is obtained from the fruit[19]. It is dark green[20].
A greenish-yellow dye is obtained from the infused leaves[18].
A ground cover plant for a shady position under trees, spreading slowly by means of suckers[4]. It should be spaced about 90cm apart each way[5].
Pollinators: Insects
Notes: This will do well in the shadier parts of the woodland garden, and is strong enough to be planted now.
We can supply in spring.
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Knight, F. P.. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society, 1980.
- ↑ Arnold-Forster, William. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Simmons, Alan. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles, 1972.
- ↑ Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Saunders, Charles. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1976.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Turner, Nancy. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences, 1978.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum, 1979.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.