Sanguisorba
A group of easy care perennials that add colour and texture to the perennial border, Sanguisorba have been grown in the UK for many years. It is only recently with the introduction of new cultivars thatb its true worth is being appreciated by gardners and landscpaers alike.
Sanguisorba are a group of perennial plants also known as Ornamental Burnet and also Salad Burnet. Flowers are in the form of catkins, popular species including Sanguisorba menziesii and Sanguisorba officinalis.
It is the red flowers that hold the attraction, appearing in late summer to autumn and holding well into the winter to add a little height and texture.
Well suited to a sunny position in the garden border with flowers appearing from late spring to summer.
Named cultivars such as Sanguisorba officinalis 'Arnhem', Sanguisorba menziesii 'Dali Marble' and Sanguisorba officinalis 'Tanna' are readily available for sale from online suppliers in the UK.
Sanguisorba Varieties
Some of the best ornamental cultivars include :
- Sanguisorba officinalis 'Tanna' reaching to just under 1m in height deep red flowers and grey green foliage. A pink flowering 'Tanna' is also available.
- Sanguisorba tenuifolia purpurea has large deep crimson to purple flowers, tall growing to nearly 2m in good conditions.
- Sanguisorba tenuifolia alba with its white flowers and ferny foliage is excellent for light shade.
- Sanguisorba obtusa is known as the Japanese Bottlebrush, pink flowers, lower growing to around 1m, however others are more attractive to our eye.
Sanguisorba Care
Any sunny humus rich fertile soil will be suitable. Once established they require little water, and suffer few problems. Excellent in a cottage garden or mixed border. In the UK all except the white flowering varieties do better in full sun.
Prune plants back to ground level in late winter to rejuvenate and tidy up.
Propagation is best by division as plants often do not come true from seed.
Sanguisorba plants are available for sale from the following nurseries
CLAIRE AUSTIN HARDY PLANTS Hardy Plants
Tel: 01939 251173 - FAX: 01939 251637
Edgebolton, Shawbury, Shropshire, SY4 4EL
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