How big does Great burnet grow?

About 90 cm × 60 cm after ten years (height × width).

Is Great burnet hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Great burnet toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

When does Great burnet flower?

Flowering: July–September, red, purple, pink.

How much water does Great burnet need?

Water need: high. Drought tolerance: low.

Great burnet

Sanguisorba officinalis

Great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) is a perennial that reaches 90 cm × 60 cm after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Non-toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €18.

Illustration of Great burnet — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A native perennial of wet meadows: thin, wiry stems rise from a clump of pinnate leaves and carry small, dark red, egg-shaped flower heads from July to September. The cultivars and hybrids on sale differ mostly in height (from compact 40 to 60 cm forms to tall ones of 120 cm), and some have pink flowers; among grasses and tall perennials the bobbles seem to float. It wants soil that stays moist through summer, and tall forms may lean over in rich ground. Always buy nursery-grown plants and leave wild stands alone, as protected butterflies depend on them.

Watch out for

In the dry, hot summers of Central Europe the foliage browns and flowering is poor without watering, so do not plant it in dry, sandy soil. Tall cultivars may lean in rich soil or part shade and then need support or neighbouring grasses to hold them. It can self-seed freely: remove the spent heads if you do not want seedlings.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: High
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 90 cm × 60 cm
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D July–September, red, purple, pink

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	90 cm × 60 cm
Ultimate size	0.4–1.2 m × 30–90 cm
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	July–September, red, purple, pink
Water need	High
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	45 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about €18

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €18

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Perennials for part shade Perennials for full sun Plants that are non-toxic to children Perennials for pollinators Low-maintenance perennials