This suckering shrub has woody stems with many spreading branches that form a bushy habit. It has glossy dark green ovate leaves and the pinkish-white urn-shaped flowers appear in a raceme from late spring to early summer followed by editable fruit.

Hardiness zones 6 to 10

Gaultheria shallonis naturally found in Western North America from British Columbia to California growing in the understory of coniferous forests or forming impenetrable thickets in coastal regions from sea level to an altitude of 800 m (2,624 ft). It has also naturalised in other parts of the world such as Britain.

It prefers a shaded to semi-shaded or sunny open to exposed position and grows in fertile moist to dry sandy or peaty to clay soils that are tending acidic with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5. It is frost and mildly drought tolerant and re-shoots after low intensity fire.

Oregon Wintergreen is grown for its edible fruit and its evergreen bushy habit. It is a versatile plant that is used in shrub borders or is trimmed to form an informal hedge. It is also planted on embankments as a ground cover and used in commercial sites requiring little maintenance.

It is suitable for coastal and low mountain regions and establishes in 3-5 years and is long-lived. This shrub is also grown in courtyard planter boxes, roof gardens or used in coastal gardens tolerating salt laden wind and the foliage is used in floral arrangements.ID 3060

Note:
In the heathlands of the UK this shrub is widely regarded as a weed and control methods include browsing cattle that feed on the leaves during winter.

Gaultheria (gol-THAIR-ee-uh) shallon (SHAL-lon)

Ericaceae(er-ek-AY-see-ee)
Bilberries, Blueberries,Cranberies, Heathers, Heaths, Rhododendrons, Wintergreens