Gaultheria shallon Shallon

A low-growing, evergreen, ericaceous  shrub, native to North America, which grows up  to about 60 cm tall and forms dense clones as a result of its vigorous rhizomatous growth. It was introducec in Britain in 1826 and originaly grown as  cover for game birds. It was first recorded in thw wild in 1908 and is now naturalised widely on acidic, heathy soils in woodland and heathland in parts of England and Scotland. Once established it can become very invasive, forming dense impenetrable thickets and difficult to eradicate, much like Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum). Penned pigs have been used with some success in the New Forest to root it out. It is less commmon in Wales and is rarely encountered in the wild in West Glamorgan.

Neophyte