Great Burnet: A Striking Native Perennial for Wet Gardens
If you’re looking for a native perennial that adds dramatic flair to your garden while supporting local wildlife, great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) might just be your new favorite plant. Also known as official burnet, this distinctive wildflower brings both beauty and ecological benefits to the landscape with its unusual bottlebrush-like blooms and adaptable nature.
What Makes Great Burnet Special?
Great burnet is a perennial forb—essentially a non-woody flowering plant—that stands out in any garden setting. What really catches the eye are its deep red to burgundy flower spikes that look like tiny bottlebrushes perched atop tall, sturdy stems. These unique blooms appear in mid to late summer, providing color and interest when many other plants are winding down for the season.
As a native species, great burnet has naturally adapted to North American conditions, making it a resilient choice for gardeners who want to work with nature rather than against it.
Where Great Burnet Calls Home
This hardy native has quite an impressive range across North America. You’ll find great burnet growing naturally in Alaska, various Canadian provinces including British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Yukon, and Northwest Territories, as well as several U.S. states including California, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Perfect Garden Companions and Settings
Great burnet shines in several garden styles and situations:
- Native plant gardens where it provides authentic local character
- Rain gardens and bioswales thanks to its love of moist conditions
- Cottage gardens where its informal charm fits right in
- Prairie restorations and naturalized areas
- Wildflower meadows where it can spread and colonize naturally
The plant’s tall, architectural flower spikes make it excellent for adding vertical interest to garden beds, while its somewhat informal growth habit keeps things from looking too stiff or formal.
Growing Conditions That Make Great Burnet Happy
One of great burnet’s most appealing qualities is its preference for the kind of moist, sometimes challenging conditions that many garden plants struggle with. This plant is classified as facultative wetland, meaning it usually thrives in wetlands but can also adapt to drier sites when needed.
For best results, provide:
- Moist to consistently wet soil (it’s quite tolerant of soggy conditions)
- Full sun to partial shade (though it performs best with good light)
- USDA hardiness zones 3-7
- Average to poor soil—it’s not picky about soil quality
Planting and Care Tips
Great burnet is refreshingly low-maintenance once established. Here’s how to give it the best start:
- Plant in spring after the last frost or in fall
- Space plants about 18-24 inches apart to allow for natural spreading
- Water regularly during the first growing season to help establish roots
- After establishment, supplemental watering is usually unnecessary except during severe drought
- Deadhead spent flowers if you want to prevent self-seeding, or leave them for winter interest and natural propagation
- Cut back in late fall or early spring—many gardeners prefer to leave the seed heads for winter structure and wildlife food
Wildlife and Pollinator Benefits
Great burnet isn’t just pretty—it’s also a valuable plant for supporting local ecosystems. The distinctive flower spikes attract various pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. The timing of its bloom period makes it especially valuable for providing nectar sources during the later summer months when some other native flowers have finished blooming.
Birds may also appreciate the seeds that develop after flowering, adding another layer of wildlife value to your garden.
Is Great Burnet Right for Your Garden?
Great burnet is an excellent choice if you:
- Have consistently moist or wet areas in your landscape
- Want to support native wildlife and pollinators
- Prefer low-maintenance plants that don’t require lots of fussing
- Appreciate unique, architectural flowers that stand out from typical garden blooms
- Are creating a native plant garden or natural landscape
However, it might not be the best fit if you have very dry conditions or prefer plants that stay compact and tidy—great burnet has a somewhat wild, informal growth habit that works best in naturalistic settings.
With its striking appearance, ecological benefits, and easy-going nature, great burnet offers native plant enthusiasts a wonderful way to add both beauty and function to their gardens. Give this underappreciated native a try, and you might find yourself becoming a burnet believer!
