Photo: Fab5669, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Perennial
Japanese burnet (Sanguisorba obtusa): when and how to prune
Sanguisorba obtusa
Japanese burnet (Sanguisorba obtusa) is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | July–September |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Japanese burnet (Sanguisorba obtusa): when to prune it?
In March, before the new shoots.
What else to prune in those months? March
Japanese burnet (Sanguisorba obtusa): how to prune it?
- Cut dead stems and old foliage back to just above the ground.
- If you like, cut spent flower spikes down to the foliage in summer.
- Use sharp secateurs and clear away the clippings.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Japanese burnet (Sanguisorba obtusa) flowers in July–September, when it attracts bees.
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
Nearby: related pruning guides
- Burnet (Sanguisorba tenuifolia)
- Canadian burnet (Sanguisorba canadensis)
- Great burnet
- Menzies' burnet (Sanguisorba menziesii)
- Salad burnet
Plant profile: Japanese burnet (Sanguisorba obtusa) · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.