Sanguisorba officinalis Tanna

The  Sanguisorba officinalis 'Tanna' is a variety of Great Burnet with a compact and bushy habit, offering an abundant red-bordeaux flowering. This robust perennial blooms in the heart of summer, producing a profusion of short spherical spikes with dark red flowers that contrast with the very finely cut foliage, which is a very tender green-blue-grey colour. This very fresh and dynamic contrast is particularly ornamental. The vigorous stump is perfectly hardy, even in heavy waterlogged soils in winter. It will bring a natural and colourful touch to sunny borders, in a rustic flowerbed near a water source.

The Sanguisorba officinalis is a medicinal botanical species widespread in the temperate northern hemisphere, from Europe to North America and on to North and West Asia. It belongs to the large rose family. The 'Tanna' cultivar is a herbaceous and rhizomatous perennial plant, non-invasive, developing from a vigorous stump. It forms 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20in) high tuft when in bloom, 50 cm (20in) wide, and with a rapid growth. It spreads slowly to form beautiful small hedges. In July-August, or even until September, tall stems emerge from the foliage, bearing upright, short, compact, rounded spikes, 2 cm (1in) long. They are adorned with small dark red to burgundy flowers. The faded inflorescences remain decorative for a long time. This flowering stands out prominently against a very finely cut fresh green foliage. The basal leaves, 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12in) long, are divided into 7 to 25 leaflets, oblong, elliptical, and regularly toothed. The leaves of the stems, smaller and erect, are often tinged with red.

The compact habit of Sanguisorba officinalis 'Tanna' makes it suitable for the front of flowerbeds or borders. It is also a very easy plant to grow in ordinary soil that is preferably moist, even chalky and clayey. It thrives as much by the water's edge as in classic flowerbeds. It has the advantage of being highly resistant to cold, which allows it to be adopted in almost all regions. For a beautiful wild and refined effect, it can be planted en masse, associated with Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan' or Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose'. It will accompany, in a light manner, other very beautiful foliage plants, such as Anaphalis triplinervis, Alchemilla mollis, or even the tall Angelica gigas. Its foliage, with its delicious cucumber scent, can also be included in composed salads.