Plant of the Month for March, 2016

Sanguisorba tenuifolia v. alba

 (san-GWIS-or-ba  ten-yoo-ih-FOH-lee-uh)

General Information:

Sanguisorba tenuifolia v. alba is a delicate looking plant with unusual nodding, bottlebrush-like spikes of white fluffy flowers. The shape and quantity of the flowers make it stand out in the border at a time when few other plants are flowering. It looks delicate, but does not need staking.

Sanguisorba tenuifolia v. alba; photo by Robert Pavlis

The species Sanguisorba tenuifoliais is normally a pink colour, with the alba variety being white.S. tenuifolia v. alba has a number of common names including white Japanese burnet, white Oriental burnet and narrow leaf burnet. The word ‘burnet’ is used to describe any Sanguisorba.

It is similar to Sanguisorba canadensis, but the latter has white flowers that are not nodding.

Sanguisorba tenuifolia v. alba; photo by Robert Pavlis

The plant in the pictures was grown from seed obtained from the ORGS&HPS SeedEx. It seems quite happy in normal, dry garden soil, but probably would prefer a wetter condition. Most sources say it is not drought tolerant.

Life Cycle: perennial

Height: 100 cm (3.5ft)

Bloom Time: mid to late summer

Natural Range: Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia

Habitat: forest margins, meadows, grassy mountain slopes, damp places; 200-1700m

Synonyms:  Sanguisorba parviflora

Cultivation:

Light: full sun

Soil: average garden soil

Water: moist to boggy conditions

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4– 9

Propagation: seed, division

Seedex availability (ORG&HPS annual Seed Exchange): occasionally