Perennial · Rosaceae family
Great Burnet
Sanguisorba officinalis
In short a 10-second read
Great Burnet (perennial) grows to 0.75–0.9 m tall and 0.4–0.5 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. It flowers in June–August; the flowers are red. Hardy to −32 °C.
× spread 0.4–0.5 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −32 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, humus-rich, clay
Soil pH 5.5–7.5
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
June–August · red
Planting
container plant: March–May, September–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −32 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −32 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Edging lobelia
0.15–0.25 m
cushion spurge
0.3–0.45 m
common sneezeweed
0.9–1.5 mReady-made Studio combinations that include Great Burnet
Siberian iris, burnet and astilbe with moor grass — for a spot where…
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does Great Burnet flower?
In June–August; the flowers are red.
Does Great Burnet tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does Great Burnet need?
At maturity 0.4–0.5 m wide and 0.75–0.9 m tall; recommended spacing 50 cm.
Does Great Burnet survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −32 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 28 September 2026.
Show sources (16)
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Sanguisorba officinalis
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Sanguisorba officinalis
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Sanguisorba officinalis
- Wikidata (CC0) — Sanguisorba officinalis
- RHS Plant Finder
- Gärtnerei Strickler, katalóg
- Bamberger Staudengarten (Strobler), katalóg
- Foerster-Stauden, katalóg
- Iowa State Extension - How to Plant Perennials
- RHS - How to grow perennial plants
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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