Sanguisorba officinalis has been utilized in herb gardens for centuries, for its ornamental as well as its medicinal and culinary purposes. Known commonly as Greater Burnet, Sanguisorba officinalis is a clump-forming, hardy perennial with medium green, pinnately compound foliage and interesting dark red to dark purple flowers on upright spikes from May to July. Both the young leaves as well as the flowers can be eaten in salads, soups, or a variety of other culinary preparations, where they are said to impart a mild cucumber flavor. Ironically, despite its human palatability, this plant tends to deter deer. Greater Burnet makes an excellent addition to the edible garden, as well as to the full sun perennial border, where it will happily self-seed if spent flowers are not removed.
