Menzies' burnet

Sanguisorba menziesii

In other languages: Pimpernel (Nederlands) · Sanguisorbe de Menzies (Français)

Sanguisorba menziesii comes from the north-west of North America and is named after the Scottish botanist Archibald Menzies. Above a clump of blue-green, pinnate leaves, thick wine-red spikes appear from May on stems about 70 cm tall. It flowers earlier than many other burnets, from May to July. The flowers have no true petals: the colour comes from the sepals and stamens. It is a compact, elegant species for a damp border, a pond edge or a naturalistic planting.

Updated on 9 October 2026

Light
Sun or partial shade
preferably some sun
Moisture
Normal to wet
must not dry out
Legal basis
Loam, clay or peat
acid to neutral
Hardiness
Fully hardy
down to -25 °C
Size
0.7 m
tall, 0.5 m wide
Flowering
May–July

Key facts
Pruning months	March and July
Height	0.7 m
Native to Belgium	No, planted
Good for bees, butterflies and birds	Yes, for bees
Poisonous to people and pets	Not known to be poisonous
Flowering	May–July

Identify

Menzies' burnet: how do you recognise it?

Habit: Compact clump about 70 cm tall and 50 cm wide, with upright flower stems.
Foliage: Pinnate, with rounded, toothed leaflets in a blue-green colour.
Flower: Thick wine-red spikes from May to July. Each spike is made up of dozens of tiny flowers.
Roots: Rhizome that slowly widens the clump. Divides well in spring or autumn.

Flowering: May–July · Plants: March–May and September–October · Pruning: March and July

In your garden

Why grow it?

Flowers from May to July with dark wine-red spikes, early for a burnet.
Compact (about 70 cm tall and 50 cm wide), so it suits smaller borders too.
The blue-green, pinnate foliage looks good before, during and after flowering.
Bees visit the flowers.
Hardy to −25 °C and low-maintenance.

Menzies' burnet: where does it grow best?

Full sun to partial shade; in full sun it needs more water.
Moist to wet, humus-rich soil: loam, clay or peat, acid to neutral.
Keep the soil moist in summer; it copes poorly with drought.
Allow 40–50 cm per plant. A sheltered spot keeps the stems upright.

Light: Sun and partial shade
Soil type: Loam, clay or peat
Acidity: Acid or neutral
Moisture: Normal or wet
Size: 0.7 m tall, 0.5 m wide
Hardiness: Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

Siberian iris: Flowers at about the same time and likes the same damp soil.
Lady’s mantle: A soft green-yellow edging at the front of the border.
Meadow cranesbill: Blue flowers that contrast nicely with the wine-red spikes.
Purple moor grass: An airy ornamental grass that frames the spikes.

Maintenance

Menzies' burnet: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September–October.

Plant in March–May or in September–October, when the soil is not frozen.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and mix in compost or leaf mould.
Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil.
Leave 40–50 cm between plants.
Water thoroughly straight away and keep the soil moist in the first year.
Spread a layer of compost mulch around the plant.

Care

Water: Keep the soil moist in summer. Water generously at the base in dry weather.
Feeding: A layer of compost in spring is enough. Too much nitrogen gives soft foliage and fewer flowers.
Mulching: A layer of compost or leaf mould in April keeps the soil cool and moist.
Spent flower spikes: Cut them off in July down to the foliage: it looks tidier and the blue-green leaves stay attractive.
Support: Thanks to its compact size, support is usually not needed. In a windy spot, sturdy neighbours help.

Tip: Keep the soil moist in summer with a layer of mulch and cut off the spent flower spikes in July: the blue-green foliage then stays tidy until autumn.

Menzies' burnet: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and July.

When: In March before the new shoots; in July for the spent flower spikes.

How:

In March, cut dead stems and old foliage back to just above the ground.
In July, cut the spent flower spikes down to the foliage.
Use sharp secateurs and clear away the clippings.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division: In March–April or September–October, cut the clump into pieces with a spade, each with roots and shoots, and replant at once.
Seed: Seed germinates best after a cold spell: sow in autumn in a seed tray and leave it outdoors until spring.

Menzies' burnet: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

Hardy to about −25 °C: no protection is needed in Belgian winters.
The foliage dies back in late autumn; cut it away in March.
Give plants set out in autumn a layer of leaves or compost as extra protection.

Diseases and pests

Drought stress: Leaf edges turn brown and the plant wilts. Water generously and mulch the soil.
Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves in late summer, especially in dry weather. Water at the base and cut off affected leaves.
Slugs: They eat young shoots in spring. Collect them in the evening and protect the new shoots.
Few flowers: Usually too much shade or too much nitrogen. Move it to a brighter spot and feed less.

Through the year

March: Cut back dead stems and old foliage. Add compost. Plant or divide.
April: Plant or divide. Apply mulch.
May: Flowering begins. Plant. Watch for slugs.
June: In flower. Water in dry weather.
July: Flowering ends. Cut off spent flower spikes.
August: Water in dry weather; keep the soil moist.
September: Plant or divide.
October: Plant or divide.
November: Foliage dies back. Dormant.

Use

Good for wildlife

Bees: Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

You and this species

Did you know?

The species is named after Archibald Menzies, a Scottish surgeon and plant collector who visited the north-west of North America in the 18th century. The Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) also carries his name.
Each spike is made up of dozens of tiny flowers without petals.

Garden plants · All species