Sanguisorba Chocolate Tip (Burnet)

If you're looking for something a little different for your summer borders, Sanguisorba 'Chocolate Tip' is a wonderful choice. This hardy perennial produces masses of small, deep burgundy flowerheads, so dark they almost look chocolate brown. Held on slender, upright stems above attractive green foliage, the flowers seem to float effortlessly above neighbouring plants.

Flowering from summer into early autumn, 'Chocolate Tip' brings rich colour and a lovely sense of movement to the garden. Its unusual, bottlebrush shaped flowers look particularly beautiful amongst ornamental grasses, Echinacea, Salvia and other summer flowering perennials.

Unlike some of the much taller Sanguisorba varieties, 'Chocolate Tip' has a relatively compact growing habit, reaching approximately 60 to 100 cm in height. This makes it a lovely choice for the middle of a border, where its dark flowers provide a striking contrast against lighter colours.

It's also a great addition to a wildlife friendly garden, attracting bees and other beneficial insects. Give it a sunny or partly shaded position with fertile soil that doesn't dry out too much during summer, and it will happily return year after year.

Once established, Sanguisorba 'Chocolate Tip' is easy to care for and requires very little maintenance. Its attractive foliage forms a neat clump, while the flowers bring colour and interest to the garden throughout the warmer months.

At DutchGrown, we supply Sanguisorba 'Chocolate Tip' as bare root plants, available to order now for spring planting. Dispatch begins in mid March.

• Botanical name: Sanguisorba officinalis 'Chocolate Tip'
• Common name: Great Burnet
• Plant type: Hardy herbaceous perennial
• Flower colour: Deep burgundy, dark maroon
• Flowering period: July to September, sometimes into October
• Height: 60 to 100 cm
• Spread: 40 to 50 cm
• Position: Full sun or partial shade
• Soil: Fertile, moist but well drained
• Watering: Water regularly after planting and during dry spells. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely
• Planting period: Spring, from March onwards
• Planting depth: Position the crown at soil level
• Planting distance: Approximately 40 to 50 cm apart
• Hardiness: Fully hardy in the UK (RHS H7)
• Fragrance: Not particularly fragrant
• Pollinators: Attractive to bees and other beneficial insects
• Growth habit: Compact, upright, clump forming
• Foliage: Green with slightly blue green tones, deciduous
• Maintenance: Low maintenance, cut back old stems in late winter or early spring
• Suitable for pots: Yes, in large containers with moisture retaining compost
• Supplied as: Bare root plant
• Dispatch: From mid March