Burnet Seeds

Grow burnet for its edible leaves, which have a pleasant cucumber-like flavor, making it useful in salads, vinegars, and drinks. Burnet is also a beneficial plant for pollinators like bees and butterflies, providing them with nectar and pollen. Additionally, it serves as erosion control, a forage source for livestock and wildlife, and adds aesthetic beauty to gardens with its delicate foliage and attractive red flowers.

Commonly known as Salad Burnet. As an herb, salad burnet offers a clean, cucumber-like flavor. It's an easy growing plant that appears early in the season and holds up well in heat.
Salad burnet plant is a Mediterranean native with hardy tolerance. It is a perennial herb, which is naturalized in Europe and North America. Salad burnet herb is a member of the rose family and is used as an erosion control, salad green and used for flavoring in vinegars and sauces. There are also old cosmetic and medicinal applications for the plant. Salad burnet is easy to grow and makes a useful addition to the herb garden or perennial bed.

Useful gardening information

Salad burnet grows well in containers and in gardens as long it has 5 hours of sun a day. It is good in zones 3 to 10 and prefers full sun to light shade, likeing a well-drained soil. Late fall or early spring is the time to dig up and divide Salad burnet for transplanting. It can be grown from seed, but is very slow to germinate meaning most plants grown from seed barely reach a mature size and usually give little harvest the first year. Planting them 12 inches apart will give them space to spread.

HR109 Burnet ( Sanguisorba minor )

Salad Burnet is a charming perennial herb prized for its attractive fern-like foliage, refreshing cucumber-flavored leaves, and exceptional versatility in the garden. Forming neat mounds of finely divided green foliage, this easy-to-grow herb provides beauty, flavor, and usefulness from spring through fall.

The young leaves have a crisp, mild flavor reminiscent of fresh cucumbers and have been enjoyed for centuries in salads, sandwiches, soups, herb butters, vinegars, and refreshing beverages. Unlike many herbs, Salad Burnet remains tender and flavorful throughout much of the growing season, making it a valuable addition to kitchen gardens and edible landscapes.

During summer, delicate burgundy flower heads are held on slender stems above the foliage, creating an airy, ornamental effect that adds texture and movement to garden beds and containers. The flowers also attract bees and other beneficial pollinators, making Salad Burnet a useful addition to wildlife-friendly gardens.

Its tidy growth habit and attractive foliage make it equally valuable as an ornamental plant. Salad Burnet performs beautifully in herb gardens, cottage gardens, rock gardens, borders, raised beds, and decorative containers where its finely textured leaves provide contrast to broader-leaved plants.

Uses and Benefits

Fresh leaves provide a mild cucumber-like flavor.
Excellent for salads, sandwiches, soups, and herb blends.
Traditionally used in flavored vinegars and beverages.
Attractive fern-like foliage provides season-long interest.
Useful ornamental herb for borders and containers.
Pollinator-friendly flowers attract bees and beneficial insects.
Excellent companion plant for herb and vegetable gardens.
Drought tolerant once established.
Suitable for cottage gardens and edible landscapes.
Easy to grow and long-lived.
Excellent choice for container gardening.
Provides fresh harvests throughout the growing season.

Hardiness Zones

Salad Burnet is a hardy perennial in USDA Zones 4-8, returning reliably each year in suitable climates.

Germination Instructions

Sow seeds outdoors in spring after danger of severe frost has passed, or start indoors 6-8 weeks before planting out.
Plant seeds approximately 1/4 inch deep.
Maintain temperatures between 60-70°F (16-21°C).
Keep soil evenly moist during germination.
Seeds typically germinate in 10-21 days.
Thin seedlings to allow good airflow and development.
Transplant carefully to avoid disturbing roots.

Growing Tips

Plant in full sun to partial shade.
Prefers well-drained soil but adapts to many conditions.
Harvest young leaves regularly for best flavor.
Remove flower stems if maximum leaf production is desired.
Water during extended dry periods.
Excellent for containers, herb gardens, and edible landscapes.

Combining ornamental beauty, culinary usefulness, pollinator value, and easy maintenance, Salad Burnet is one of the most rewarding herbs for gardeners seeking both beauty and function. Its fresh cucumber flavor and attractive fern-like foliage make it a standout addition to herb gardens, containers, and edible landscapes alike.

All seed packets listed on this page are in stock and ready to ship.