Sanguisorba: the most beautiful varieties

Sanguisorba obtusa, graceful Japanese burnet

Commonly known as Japanese burnet, the Sanguisorba obtusa is a perennial native to the wet meadows of the Japanese mountains. This elegant develops finely divided fern-like foliage showcasing curved spike flowers at the end of long purple stems. These fluffy, soft pink flowers finishing with a hint of golden yellow bloom from July to September. This stunning rhizomatous perennial is hardy down to -20.5 °C, reaching a height of 50 cm and a diameter of 40 cm.

Plant this beautiful Japanese burnet in fresh, light, lime-free soil, in a sunny or partially shaded position, alongside Thalictrum rochebrunianum with small purple-pink flowers gathered in light bouquets at the tips of tall, straight stems.

On the left: Sanguisorba obtusa and Thalictrum rochebrunianum, on the right: detail of the feathery flowers of the burnet

Sanguisorba officinalis 'Pink Tanna', Great Burnet

Botanical species widespread throughout the temperate northern hemisphere, Great Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis has passed on its natural beauty to this cultivar ‘Pink Tanna’. It develops rapidly from a vigorous stump, taking the form of a herbaceous perennial and rhizomatous plant, reaching a height of 50 to 70 cm in flower and 60 cm in width. In July-August, Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Pink Tanna’ produces large floral spikes rising from the foliage, adorned with small fluffy flowers that start as purplish-pink, turning bright pink as they bloom.

Plant this perfectly hardy perennial in ordinary, yet cool soil, even if it is calcareous and clayey, alongside Campanula lactiflora to effortlessly enhance your natural or country-style borders.

Sanguisorba ‘Pink Tanna’ and Campanula lactiflora

Sanguisorba hybrid 'Pink Brushes', all about elegance and generosity

New hybrid variety, the Sanguisorba ‘Pink Brushes’ is a Burnet that brings a beautiful touch of elegance and poetry to landscape displays. From a vigorous and perfectly hardy stump, it quickly forms beautiful leafy masses over 1 m in height and 60 cm in width. This fairly light green foliage is edged in bronze to brown. From July to September, large floral spikes emerge, bearing long, feathery, gracefully trailing tassels of a fresh, absolutely delightful pink.

To add a natural and romantic touch to sunny borders in cool soil, pair the Burnet ‘Pink Brushes’ with Dahlias ‘Le Baron’ in a beautiful magenta pink, and Echinacea purpurea ‘Pink Double Delight’ with very double pompom-shaped centres.

Sanguisorba ‘Pink Brushes’, Dahlia ‘Le Baron’ and Echinacea purpurea ‘Pink Double Delight’

Sanguisorba 'Chocolate Tip', a lovely character

Beautiful perennial with a striking colour, Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Chocolate Tip’ certainly stands out in gardens! Forming a robust stump, it develops a large rosette of deciduous and compound light green leaves in spring. From May onwards, large stiff inflorescences bloom into small oval-shaped flowers, intense chocolate colour.

Perfectly hardy, Sanguisorba ‘Chocolate Tip’ is ideal for enhancing herbaceous borders in a natural style or contemporary flower beds with its stunning hue. Plant it in deep, cool, well-drained soil alongside Achillea millefolium ‘Terracotta’ and Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’ for lovely colour contrasts.

Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Chocolate Tip’ and Achillea millefolium ‘Terracotta’

Sanguisorba 'Little Angel', a variegated burnet with striking foliage

Recent variety, the Sanguisorba ‘Little Angel’ is interesting for its flowering, indeed, but also and especially for its lovely variegated foliage, which helps to bring brightness to the borders. This deciduous foliage, finely cut and crenate, is a beautiful dark green edged with cream and develops year after year from a vigorous and hardy stump. From July to September, the clump, 40 cm high and 25 cm wide, is topped with a multitude of short upright spikes, shaped like brushes, in a stunning raspberry red colour.

This robust perennial with rapid growth will undoubtedly add a touch of natural poetry to your borders, thriving in any fresh to moist soil. Pair it with Digiplexis ‘Illumination Flame’ featuring large tubular flowers in reddish-pink-orange with a yellow throat, and carpets of Periwinkles Vinca major ‘Variegata’, which also has variegated foliage and purple flowers that will provide a lovely contrast to the display.

Sanguisorba ‘Little Angel’, Digiplexis ‘Illumination Flame’ and Vinca major ‘Variegata’

Sanguisorba tenuifolia 'Alba', a lovely white lady

This variety of White Burnet, Sanguisorba tenuifolia ‘Alba’, is a pure splendour, both imposing in size and of great lightness. It sways its white spikes above a clump of 1.5 m in height in bloom, with a width of 50 cm, composed of very finely cut dark green leaves.

For a guaranteed magical effect, plant the Burnet tenuifolia ‘Alba’ in deep soil alongside vibrant Daylilies ‘Sammy Russel’. Perfectly hardy and very easy to grow, these perennials will bloom throughout the summer period.

Sanguisorba tenuifolia ‘Alba’ and Hemerocallis ‘Sammy Russel’

Sanguisorba hakusanensis, airy and colourful

This botanical burnet is one of the most beautiful of the genus: the Sanguisorba hakusanensis is a herbaceous perennial and rhizomatous plant native to Japan and Korea. Forming a lovely rounded clump with long, fresh green pinnate foliage, it displays a fluffy flowering in the shape of trailing bottlebrushes in lilac colour at the end of summer for several weeks.

Very hardy, Sanguisorba hakusanensis enjoys fresh, loose, humus-bearing soils and a sunny to partially shaded exposure. Plant it alongside Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Blackfield’ and Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’ for a lush and natural border. Enhance this display with the tall violet flower stems of the Buenos Aires Verbena Verbena bonariensis.

Sanguisorba hakusanensis, Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Blackfield’, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’ and Verbena bonariensis

For further reading...

Discover the best tips for cultivating Burnet or Sanguisorba.