Salad Burnet

Description

Sanguisorba minor – salad burnet

Botanical name: Sanguisorba minor
Common names: Salad burnet
Family: Rosaceae (rose family)
Plant type: Semi-evergreen perennial herb
Habit: Low, clump-forming rosette
Pot size: 1 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 30–45cm tall in flower × 30cm spread
Foliage: Neat rosettes of ferny, divided, aromatic green leaves with a fresh cucumber scent; semi-evergreen
Flowers: Rounded, thimble-like reddish-green flowerheads on wiry stems in summer (May–August)
Scent: Cucumber-scented foliage
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained; tolerates chalk, lime and dry soil; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Open, sunny; tolerant
Native range: Native to Europe including the UK
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Sanguisorba minor, salad burnet, is a neat native herb forming rosettes of ferny, cucumber-scented leaves topped by rounded reddish flowerheads. Tough and semi-evergreen, it is charming in herb gardens, edging and meadows.

GardenAdvice notes

A pretty, tough native perennial, salad burnet forms neat rosettes of delicate, ferny leaves with a refreshing cucumber scent, topped in summer by curious rounded, thimble-like reddish-green flowerheads on wiry stems. Semi-evergreen and drought-tolerant, thriving even on dry chalk, it is charming in a herb garden, as edging, or naturalised in a wildflower meadow.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade — it thrives on poor, dry, chalky soils and is very tolerant. Ideal for herb gardens, edging, gravel and wildflower meadows. Space about 30cm apart. It self-seeds gently.

Care & maintenance

Very low-maintenance. Remove the flower stems if you wish to keep it neat and leafy, or leave them for their quirky seedheads and to allow gentle self-seeding. Cut back tatty growth in spring. Water only while establishing; thereafter it is drought-tolerant.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide clumps in spring.
• Seed: Sow seed in spring, or allow it to self-seed gently.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free and tough, with few pests or diseases. An easy, reliable native herb.

Uses in the garden

Charming in herb gardens, as low edging, in gravel and chalk gardens, and naturalised in wildflower meadows and grassy areas, where its ferny foliage and thimble flowerheads add fine texture.

Wildlife value

As a native plant it supports insects, and the flowers, which are wind- and insect-pollinated, add to the wildlife value of meadows and naturalistic plantings.

Toxicity & safety

This herb is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

Salad burnet is a lovely, tough little native herb with fresh, cucumber-scented ferny foliage — evergreen enough to earn its place year-round, and happy on dry, chalky soil where many things struggle. It’s charming as edging or dotted through a wildflower meadow; leave a few seedheads and it will gently seed itself around.

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