Sanguisorba 'White Tanna'

Dwarf Burnet Rosaceae

A particularly elegant white-flowered Sanguisorba, forming a clump of finely divided, glossy green foliage and strong, upright stems carrying profuse, gently arching to pendent white bottlebrush flowers. The flowers appear from early summer and continue for many weeks, giving this selection a long flowering season and considerable movement in the border. Unlike many tall Sanguisorbas, ‘White Tanna’ is notably self-supporting, with the stiff stems maintaining a good upright habit. 

RHS currently lists it as Sanguisorba tenuifolia ‘White Tanna’, reaching approximately 0.5–1m, with white, hanging bottlebrushes from late summer into autumn, and rates it H7. Other specialist observations place it nearer 1.2–1.3m in flower, with the combination of white flowers, moderate height and strong stems making it particularly useful in the herbaceous border. 

Grow in full sun or partial shade in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Do not allow it to dry out severely in summer. Excellent among grasses and other naturalistic perennials, where the white flowerheads provide a light, airy contrast.

Flowering: June–August
Hardiness: H7, below –20°C
Height: 1–1.3m
Spread: 60–70cm