The biology of Canadian weeds. 102. Gaultheria shallon Pursh.

Abstract

Gaultheria shallon Pursh., salal (Ericaceae), is a densely growing perennial evergreen shrub occurring only from the panhandle of Alaska along the entire coast of British Columbia to southern California; it is of native origin. Salal grows on a wide range of soil types and textures, and is abundant in open habitats near the coast particularly on rocky knolls and along bluffs. It is a persistent, pervasive woody perennial and is a serious competitor with coniferous species. The plant produces numerous seeds but the most significant and effective form of colonization is through vegetative spread. Several herbicides are recommended for control of the the weed but it is both resistant and resilient to many herbicides. This contribution summarizes the known biological data for this species. Key words: Gaultheria shallon, salal, evergreen shrub, weed biology, competition