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Sanguisorba officinalis not blooming properly

mathewdavidbrownmathewdavidbrown Posts: 39
in Plants
Hi, my sanguisorba officinalis aren't blooming properly. I'm getting masses of flowers but they are brown with only one or two pink petals per head. They've been in this state for about a month. Will they turn pink eventually?
Thanks
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Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited June 2023
    @mathewdavidbrown I have never seen that before and I have grown them for decades. If you look closely is there any sigh of insects?
    If no help is offered can you contact @avondalenursery.co.uk ? they hold a National Collection of Sanguisorba.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I wonder if they're just too dry to stay full as long as they normally would.
    It often happens with plants that don't like soil that fully dries out. The flowers happen, but are short lived, because they're dispensed with to save the main plant. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Fairygirl That is possible. They are supposed to be easy in most soils but I will give mine a bucket of water if they start to droop, which they can do in my clay soil. To be honest I am really unsure, gall midge was a thought but if that is the case it needs to be reported to the RHS or start with Avondale. I could be completely wrong.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • mathewdavidbrownmathewdavidbrown Posts: 39
    I grew them from seed last year and now they're fully grown plants. I have about thirty dotted around the garden in a variety of soils, from clay to well-manured garden compost, and they all look the same. They've been like this since May, when it was really wet, and I've been watering them well enough since so I don't think it's a water issue. No bugs I'm aware of. I'm at a loss.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    It's Sanguisorba minor. That's how they look. I think you've been sold the wrong seed (how annoying!)
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    I was very confused when I saw the post, I thought that looked normal then I realised it's meant to be Greater Burnet, not the Salad Burnet I had assumed.
    And that I think is your problem I think you have Sanguisorba minor rather than Sanguisorba officinalis



  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That would explain it then @Loxley!
    I've only ever had S. officinalis, and it was a long time ago, so I wouldn't have known that.
    Bit disappointing for the OP though. Not too attractive as a garden plant, especially if there's so many  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    Fairygirl said:
    That would explain it then @Loxley!
    I've only ever had S. officinalis, and it was a long time ago, so I wouldn't have known that.
    Bit disappointing for the OP though. Not too attractive as a garden plant, especially if there's so many  :/

    I have deliberatly planted S. minor because I love the taste in summer drinks, but no it's not a very showy plant. It does well in lawns though so if OP has a flower meadow move it there instead.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited June 2023
    The first photo did look very strange to me. I should have realised as I made a mistake when I first grew them. I bought one from a plant stall it was S Tanna very disappointing.
    I now grow  S Cangshan Cranberry it grows to the top of a 6ft obelisk.
    @Skandi Well spotted. 
    @mathewdavidbrown Sorry I cannot add any more to help you. Even the tall ones need the support of other plants such as grasses and late daisies/agapnthus to really work well. 
    @Loxley I think I will avoid the city today.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • mathewdavidbrownmathewdavidbrown Posts: 39
    Loxley said:
    It's Sanguisorba minor. That's how they look. I think you've been sold the wrong seed (how annoying!)
    Hah! I certainly have. Dammit! I've been looking forward to seeing those pink blooms all year. I knew something wasn't right. Thank you.
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