Does it need full sun?

Yes, it prefers full sun to maintain its compact shape.

Can I grow it in a pot?

It grows very well in containers with well-draining soil.

Plant guide

Salad Burnet.

Poterium sanguisorba

Pronounced po-TEER-ee-um san-gwi-SOR-ba

Also known as Small Burnet, burnet bloodwort, fodder burnet, little burnet, salad burnet, Garden Burnet

Salad burnet is a charming, low growing perennial herb that stays green through most of the winter. It has a mild cucumber flavor that makes it a lovely addition to fresh salads and cold drinks. You will find it is quite hardy and easy to keep in a sunny garden spot.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial herb
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 8
Bloom time: Late spring to mid summer

Care

Keep the soil well drained to prevent root rot, as this plant dislikes sitting in water. You can trim back the flower stalks to encourage more leafy growth for your kitchen use. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal that the soil is staying too wet.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced organic fertilizer once every two months during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back flower stalks regularly to promote lush foliage production.
Repotting: Repot in early spring if the plant becomes root bound in its container.
Soil: Well drained, alkaline to neutral soil
Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5
Temperature: -34 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot.
Stunted growth.

Safety

People: This plant is considered non-toxic to humans.
Children: There are no specific safety concerns for children handling this plant.
Contact allergens: No specific skin irritants are known.
Airborne allergens: The pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals during the flowering period.
Edibility: Ensure plants are not treated with pesticides before consuming leaves in salads.

How to identify it

Rosette of fern like pinnate leaves
Small serrated leaflets along stems
Globular clusters of tiny reddish flowers
Cucumber scent when leaves are crushed

Height: 0.3 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.45m
Leaves: green, blue-green, semi-evergreen
Flowers: green, pink, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

Powdery MildewCommon
AphidsUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Slugs and SnailsUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, division
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: Cut back dead foliage in late winter to make room for fresh spring growth. It is hardy and generally requires no special protection.
In containers: It is well suited for containers, provided the pot has excellent drainage and is at least 20 centimeters deep.

Seed sowing

Sow seeds in pots during spring.
Cover lightly with soil.
Keep moist until germination.

Division

Dig up a mature clump in spring.
Gently pull the root mass apart.
Replant sections immediately.

Group this plant with other drought-tolerant Mediterranean herbs for a low-maintenance patch.

Grows well with

Thyme · They share similar requirements for sun and well-draining soil.
Chives · They make excellent neighbors in a culinary herb garden.

Similar species

Great Burnet · It is a taller relative that prefers moister soil conditions.

Science

Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Poterium
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa.
Conservation: It is a common plant and not of conservation concern.

It is a drought-tolerant plant that thrives in dry, calcareous grasslands.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, larval host plant
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: culinary herb, ground cover, rock garden plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 7/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 3/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?: Yes, it prefers full sun to maintain its compact shape.
Can I grow it in a pot?: It grows very well in containers with well-draining soil.

Where the name comes from

The name Poterium comes from the Greek word for a drinking cup, while sanguisorba refers to its historical use to staunch bleeding.

Good to know

It was historically known as salad burnet.
The leaves stay green through mild winters.
It thrives in poor, rocky soils where other plants struggle.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

Keep your salad burnet growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.