Salal grows in moist to dry, montane to lowland coastal conifer forests as well as forested peatland and swamps throughout the Pacific Northwest down to Southern California. It is a common coniferous forest understory species where shade is not heavy. Salal tolerates moderate shade and does well in sun.
 
It grows in a variety of soils but prefers moist sandy or peaty soils, and establishes on decaying wood and stumps.

Lewis and Clark reported the local Chinook name of the omnipresent evergreen shrub to be shallon, shelwel, or shellwell, but when Scottish naturalist David Douglas arrived at Fort George in April 1825 he noted that it was not called shallon but rather salal or sallal.
 
Growth Habit / Role: Low to mid shrub; groundlayer
Mature Height: 2–5 ft
Habitat: Coastal forest; dry to moist understory
Native Range: Coast and lowlands
Seasonal Interest: Spring flowers; berries; evergreen foliage
Flower Color: White/Pink