Sanguisorba canadensis

Poised atop tall stems, American burnet’s spikes of shaggy white flowers bring an air of the surreal to the garden in late summer. The flowers’ soft, tasseled look is owing to their long stamens, which hang loosely and flutter with each passing breeze. In NE Ohio, American burnet is native to fens, wet meadows, and thickets, where it grows under full sun in soils of average to moderately wet moisture. In a garden setting, this plant is most impressive when given space to form a patch, and although it is not aggressive, it will tend to spread through underground stems. Due to its height (3 – 6 feet), it is best placed toward the back of the garden, and it is perfect for a sunny wet spot. When planted in combination with tall ironweed, New England aster, and wrinkleleaf goldenrod, American burnet is part of a striking late season floral display. A botanical curiosity, American burnet is an insect-pollinated species within a mainly wind-pollinated genus (Sanguisorba), which is part of an