Salad burnet
Poterium sanguisorba · Rosaceae
📷 Lidine Mia · CC BY-SA 4.0
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant salad burnet: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Poterium sanguisorba
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Type
- Perennial herb
- Mature height
- 40 cm
- Flowering
- May to July
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy (down to -15°C)
- Foliage
- Deciduous to semi-evergreen
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Salad burnet tolerates drought well and thrives in poor soil. Pinch off flower clusters to keep stimulating the production of tender young leaves continuously.
The common mistake
Overwatering or over-fertilizing: the plant produces loads of soft foliage and loses its aromatic quality.
The pro's trick
Harvest young, tender leaves in the morning—they're much more fragrant.
Care
Exposure
Salad burnet appreciates full sun to develop flavorful and fragrant foliage. However, it tolerates light afternoon shade in very hot regions. Avoid overly shaded exposures that would slow its growth.
Watering
A hardy and undemanding plant, it requires little water once established. Water moderately during spring growth and during prolonged dry spells. Avoid excess moisture that promotes rot.
Soil and planting
Salad burnet prefers well-drained, chalky or neutral soils, lean rather than rich. It adapts well to light and stony ground. Plant in spring, spacing plants 30 cm apart.
Pruning and maintenance
Cut back lightly after flowering to encourage branching and maintain a compact form. In late autumn, you can remove dry stems. No severe pruning is necessary; the plant regrows naturally.
Fertilizing
Salad burnet is not demanding. An annual application of well-decomposed compost in spring is more than sufficient. Avoid rich fertilizers that would promote vegetative growth at the expense of flavor.
Health and pests
A robust plant that is rarely susceptible to disease. Occasionally watch for rust (orange patches) in humid climates. Overwatering can cause rot: maintain well-drained soil and space out watering.
Did you know?
Salad burnet was highly prized at royal medieval tables for its leaves with a slight cucumber taste, added to salads and refreshing beverages. It was featured in medieval gardens alongside sorrel and mint, symbols of gastronomic refinement.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.