Sanguisorba 'Tanna'

Sanguisorba 'Tanna': A Graceful Dance of Ruby Droplets

Sanguisorba 'Tanna' is a captivating perennial that brings an understated elegance and dynamic movement to the garden. Known for its compact growth and unique, bottlebrush-like blooms, this variety of Burnet is a favorite among garden designers and enthusiasts alike for creating textural contrast and interest in borders and wildflower meadows. 'Tanna' stands out with its deep red, almost ruby-colored flowers that hover above the foliage like delicate droplets, swaying gently with the breeze.

Product Characteristics:

• Height: 'Tanna' reaches a modest height of 30-50 cm, making it an ideal choice for the front of the border, rock gardens, or as a refined element in container plantings.
• Spread: It forms tidy clumps of about 20-30 cm wide, with a dense, mounding habit that adds structure and fullness to garden compositions.
• Flower Colour: The blooms are a rich, ruby red, presenting a striking contrast against the green backdrop of the garden, and bloom from early to mid-summer.
• Flowering Period: Boasting a long blooming season from early summer through to late summer, Sanguisorba 'Tanna' provides sustained interest and color when many other perennials are starting to fade.
• Foliage: Its foliage consists of small, pinnate leaves that are bluish-green, adding texture and a lush, verdant quality to the plant's overall appearance.
• Sunlight Requirements: Prefers full sun to partial shade, thriving in a variety of lighting conditions but producing the most vibrant blooms in sunnier spots.
• Soil Requirements: Adaptable to a range of soil types, 'Tanna' performs best in well-drained, moist soils and demonstrates good drought tolerance once established.

Uses and Benefits: Sanguisorba 'Tanna' is not only celebrated for its aesthetic appeal but also for its versatility and ease of care. Its unique blooms make it a striking addition to cut flower arrangements, adding an element of whimsy and elegance. In the garden, it's perfect for attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies, enhancing the garden's biodiversity. Ideal for cottage gardens, naturalistic plantings, and as an accent in perennial borders, 'Tanna' brings beauty and life to any outdoor space.

Companion Plants: To create a visually engaging and harmonious garden scene, pair 'Tanna' with perennials that offer contrasting forms or complementary colors. Grasses like Stipa tenuissima or Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' can add height and texture, while the silver foliage of Artemisia or Lamb's Ears (Stachys byzantina) provides a striking backdrop to 'Tanna's' ruby blooms. For color contrast, consider planting alongside yellow-flowering perennials such as Coreopsis or Achillea.

Care Instructions: Sanguisorba 'Tanna' is a low-maintenance perennial that requires minimal care to thrive. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Once established, it is quite drought-tolerant, requiring only occasional watering during extended dry spells. Deadheading the spent blooms can encourage a second flush of flowers, extending the blooming period. In late fall, cut back the foliage to tidy the garden and promote healthy growth in the spring.

History: Sanguisorba, commonly known as Burnet, has a long history of use in herbal medicine as well as in ornamental gardens. 'Tanna' is a selection prized for its ornamental value, compact growth habit, and striking blooms, representing the successful cultivation of Sanguisorba for aesthetic purposes without losing the plant's natural charm and resilience.

Final Thoughts: Sanguisorba 'Tanna' is a testament to the beauty that can be found in simplicity and subtlety. Its ruby red blooms and textured foliage offer a unique visual and tactile experience in the garden, proving that even the smallest details can have a significant impact. Whether used in mass plantings, as part of a mixed border, or in containers, 'Tanna' is sure to captivate and enchant, bringing a graceful dance of color and form to any garden setting.