Salad burnet

Sanguisorba minor

Tufted British native perennial of chalk and limestone grassland, with ferny-pinnate leaves and small round purple-red flower heads on wiry stems. Classic edging plant and traditional salad herb.

Hardiness ratings

Salad burnet hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 4–9 −34.4 °C to −1.1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 4–8 −29 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–5 −15 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Plant in herb-garden edging, gravel gardens, and meadow plantings — neat tufted habit and unusual round flower heads
  • Edible young leaves — fresh mild cucumber flavour, used fresh in salads, cool drinks, and butters
  • Drought tolerant once established — natural on dry chalk and limestone grassland
  • Pick the youngest leaves only — older leaves are tough and tannic

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Salad burnet against your zones

Reference

Salad burnet on Wikipedia