Overview
Sanguisorba canadensis is a herbaceous perennial in the genus Sanguisorba, part of the Rosaceae family. It typically grows around 1.2 m tall. Sanguisorba canadensis grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. It is native to North America.
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 canadensis, the white burnet, is a herbaceous perennial native to North America that produces upright stems topped with creamy-white flower spikes between June and August. It typically grows to around 1.2 m, forming clumps of foliage with tall flowering stems through the summer months. Give the plant a sunny site and a soil that remains moist but well-drained; it tolerates sandy, loamy or clay textures so long as free water does not stand around the crowns. In UK terms it is rated H7, meaning it is fully hardy and will withstand winter conditions in exposed gardens without winter protection. At roughly 1.2 m it works well at the back of a mixed border or where summer vertical presence is needed, such as beside paths or along a meadow edge. Its summer flowering adds a pale, neutral tone that pairs well with stronger-coloured perennials. Cutting back the spent flower stems after August keeps clumps tidy and encourages fresh basal shoots the following spring.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Sanguisorba
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Sandy, Loamy, Clay
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
Sanguisorba canadensis size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 1.2 m
- Native to
- North America
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Sanguisorba canadensis?
Sanguisorba canadensis prefers full sun.
What soil does Sanguisorba canadensis need?
Sanguisorba canadensis is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including sandy, loamy and clay. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained.
How big does Sanguisorba canadensis grow?
Sanguisorba canadensis reaches a height of 1.2 m.
Is Sanguisorba canadensis hardy in the UK?
Sanguisorba canadensis has an RHS hardiness rating of H7, meaning it is fully hardy throughout the UK, tolerating temperatures below -20°C.
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 obtusaJapanese burnet
- Sanguisorba officinalis 'Rubra'Great Burnet
- Sanguisorba 'Blackthorn'Burnet
- Sanguisorba 'Cangshan Cranberry'Burnet
- Sanguisorba 'Chocolate Tip'
- Sanguisorba 'Tears From Heaven'Burnet