Sanguisorba officinalis L.
Burnet Bloodwort
Great burnet is a tall, elegant perennial of the rose family and a true native of Britain's damp meadows, most frequent across central and northern England with scattered colonies in Wales and the south. From a clump of pinnate, blue-green leaves it sends up long, branching stems carrying distinctive oblong heads of deep crimson-maroon flowers, held well clear of the foliage so they seem to float above the sward in high summer.
About
Great burnet is a tall, elegant perennial of the rose family and a true native of Britain's damp meadows, most frequent across central and northern England with scattered colonies in Wales and the south. From a clump of pinnate, blue-green leaves it sends up long, branching stems carrying distinctive oblong heads of deep crimson-maroon flowers, held well clear of the foliage so they seem to float above the sward in high summer.
It thrives in moist, fertile ground such as unimproved hay meadows, floodplain grassland and the margins of rivers and ditches, in full sun or light shade. The flowers open from around midsummer into early autumn and are rich in nectar and pollen, drawing bees, butterflies and other insects, while the plant also supports the larvae of several moths. Its upright, architectural form makes it a favourite for naturalistic and prairie-style planting as well as a valuable addition to damp meadow seed mixes.
Also known as
Great Burnet · Great burnet · Official Burnet · Salad Burnet · Sanguisorba
Synonyms
Pimpinella officinalis · Poterium boreale · Poterium officinale · Poterium officinale montanum · Poterium officinale sabaudum · Sanguisorba altissima · Sanguisorba andersonii · Sanguisorba angustifolia · Sanguisorba auriculata · Sanguisorba baicalensis
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.