Create Your Garden

Sanguisorba officinalis (Great Burnet)

Great Burnet, Greater Burnet, Greater Salad Burnet, Burnet Bloodwort

Sanguisorba officinalis, Great Burnet, Greater Burnet, Greater Salad Burnet, Burnet Bloodwort, Pink Flowers, Red Flowers
Sanguisorba officinalis, Great Burnet, Greater Burnet, Greater Salad Burnet, Burnet Bloodwort, Pink Flowers, Red Flowers
Sanguisorba officinalis, Great Burnet, Greater Burnet, Greater Salad Burnet, Burnet Bloodwort, Pink Flowers, Red Flowers

Sanguisorba officinalis (Great Burnet) is a clump-forming, rhizomatous perennial with pinnate, medium green, basal leaves, each with 7-25 serrate leaflets. Deep red bottlebrush flowers appear atop long stems from midsummer through fall. They weave through other perennials, adding color and life to the late summer garden. Great Burnet is an ornamental plant that fits well in meadow gardens and naturalistic plantings, as well as herb gardens, where its young leaves may be harvested for soups, salads and sandwiches. Site it carefully as it is an overenthusiastic reseeder.

  • Grows up to 30-36 in. high (75-90 cm) and 24-36 in. across (60-90 cm). May require staking.
  • Performs best in full sun in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils that do not dry out. Give it afternoon shade in hot summer climates.
  • Makes a lovely accent in beds and borders, prairie plantings or wildlife gardens.
  • Virtually pest and disease free. Deer resistant.
  • Freely self-seeds. Prompt removal of spent flowers will prevent unwanted self-seeding.
  • Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame in spring or autumn. Propagate by division in spring or autumn.
  • Native to Asia, Europe, and North America.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 8
Heat Zones 3 - 8
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Rosaceae
Genus Sanguisorba
Common names Burnet
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spread 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spacing 24" - 36"
(60cm - 90cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United Kingdom, California, United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Maine, Midwest, Minnesota, Nebraska, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Alaska
Tolerance Deer
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Sanguisorba (Burnet)
Not sure which Sanguisorba (Burnet) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Pink Tanna’ (Great Burnet)
Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Red Thunder’ (Great Burnet)
Sanguisorba menziesii (Menzies’ Burnet)
Sanguisorba albiflora (White-Flowered Burnet)
Sanguisorba minor (Salad Burnet)
Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Tanna’ (Great Burnet)

Recommended Companion Plants

Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’ (Globe Thistle)
Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’ (Coneflower)
Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Album’ (Culver’s Root)
Rudbeckia fulgida (Black-Eyed Susan)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 8
Heat Zones 3 - 8
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Rosaceae
Genus Sanguisorba
Common names Burnet
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spread 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spacing 24" - 36"
(60cm - 90cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United Kingdom, California, United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Maine, Midwest, Minnesota, Nebraska, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Alaska
Tolerance Deer
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Sanguisorba (Burnet)
Not sure which Sanguisorba (Burnet) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Sanguisorba officinalis (Great Burnet) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Sanguisorba officinalis (Great Burnet) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone