Perch Supply
Alaska · Shrub

Salal for birds in Alaska

Dark berries and evergreen understory cover. Native to Alaska, where it feeds or shelters 12 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Gaultheria shallon
Native status
Native in Alaska
Hardiness zones
USDA 1a–8a
What birds get from it
fruit and berries
Alaska birds supported
12
Nesting birds among them
12

Growing conditions in Alaska

Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.

A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.

Alaska birds that use Salal

Year-round residents (2)

Canada Jay, Pine Grosbeak

Nesting season it supports in Alaska

Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Salal:

  • American Robin — May–July
  • Northern Flicker — May–June
  • Cedar Waxwing — July–August
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler — June–July
  • Canada Jay — April
  • Mountain Bluebird — June–July
  • Fox Sparrow — June–July
  • Varied Thrush — June–July
  • Hermit Thrush — June–July
  • Pine Grosbeak — June–July

Native plants to pair with Salal in Alaska

Red-osier dogwood
Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Western serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia · Shrub

Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.

Salmonberry
Rubus spectabilis · Shrub

Spring flowers for Rufous Hummingbirds, early fruit for thrushes.

Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi · Shrub

Low evergreen with winter-persistent red fruit.

Crowberry
Empetrum nigrum · Shrub

Arctic berry that survives under snow into spring.

White spruce
Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Frequently asked

Is Salal native to Alaska?

Yes. Salal (Gaultheria shallon) is recorded as native in Alaska. Alaska spans USDA 1a–8a.

What birds does Salal attract in Alaska?

In Alaska, Salal supports 12 backyard birds, including American Robin, Northern Flicker, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Canada Jay, Mountain Bluebird.

Does Salal help nesting birds in Alaska?

12 of those birds nest in Alaska: American Robin (May–July), Northern Flicker (May–June), Cedar Waxwing (July–August), Yellow-rumped Warbler (June–July).

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Alaska
  4. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
  5. Audubon Native Plants Database

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.