About
Sanguisorba 'Blackthorn' is a cultivar in the burnet genus Sanguisorba, part of the rose family Rosaceae. It bears the genus's small, densely clustered flowers during June to August. Leaves are pinnate and arise from a central crown, while flowering stems extend above the foliage. Individual flowers are very small and occur in compact inflorescences.
About the genus
Sanguisorba is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The common name is burnet.
Wikipedia contributors, "Sanguisorba", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Sanguisorba
In the garden
Sanguisorba 'Blackthorn' sits within the burnet group of the Rosaceae and follows the general form of its genus: herbaceous or subshrub habit with a crown of pinnate leaves and erect flowering stems. The flowering season runs from June to August, when the plant produces tight clusters of small flowers; individual blooms are very small and grouped into compact inflorescences. Observe specimens of Sanguisorba to decide best placement: the genus typically sends up stems that rise above a basal rosette of pinnate leaves, so allow room for the flower spikes to show. Young leaves emerge from the crown and the flowering stems can reach well above the foliage, so give the crown clear soil and avoid burying it when planting. Cutting spent flower stems after seed set will keep the plant tidy through late season. Sanguisorba 'Blackthorn' suits mixed perennial borders and schemes where narrow, airy flower spikes are wanted from early to high summer. It pairs readily with grasses or broader-leaved perennials that provide a backdrop for the compact flower clusters, and positioning should consider how the flowering stems will sit relative to neighbouring plants to allow the small inflorescences to be visible during June to August.
From the Fenn Plants journal
- Notes on DaffodilsWhen to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK, how deep, how to naturalise them in grass, why daffodils stop flowering (“blindness”), and why you should never mix cut daffodils with other flowers.
- Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
- Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.
More in the Sanguisorba genus
- Sanguisorba 'Japan'Burnet
- Sanguisorba 'Lilac Squirrel'Burnet
- Sanguisorba canadensiswhite burnet
- Sanguisorba obtusaJapanese burnet
- Sanguisorba officinalis 'Rubra'Great Burnet
- Sanguisorba 'Cangshan Cranberry'Burnet
- Sanguisorba 'Chocolate Tip'
- Sanguisorba 'Tears From Heaven'Burnet