Choosing a burnet is less about finding one universally best plant and more about deciding how much height, colour and movement your border can take. The UK catalogue from DutchGrown™ includes compact and tall Sanguisorba, all with the characteristic slender stems and soft, bottlebrush-like flowers.
We compared four named varieties from their UK product listings. Their main differences are useful and visible on paper: pink or white flowers, a middle-border scale or tall airy stems, and slightly different planting distances. The listings describe each as a hardy perennial supplied bare root for spring planting.
This is a listing-based comparison: our recommendations use the store’s product descriptions and stated dimensions.
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Key facts
- Pink Tanna is the compact pink choice, listed at 60 to 90 cm tall.
- Albiflora is a compact white alternative, listed at 60 to 75 cm.
- Lilac Squirrel reaches about 115 cm and has lilac-pink, drooping flower spikes.
- Korean Snow is the tallest of these four at about 150 cm; support may help in exposed positions.
- All four are supplied as bare-root plants for spring planting, with dispatch beginning in mid March.
Shape the shortlist
The product pages make clear that Sanguisorba is a family of related forms, not a single border role. Height is the first filter: a plant under a metre can weave through existing perennials, while a taller variety creates a fine, see-through layer behind them. Flower colour is the next decision, because white and lilac-pink read differently against grasses and deeper foliage. A useful comparison starts with the compact varieties if space is limited.
For a familiar mid-border scale, start with Sanguisorba Pink Tanna. DutchGrown lists it at 60 to 90 cm, with deep pink flowers and a spread of 40 to 60 cm. That is still a meaningful footprint, but it is easier to place among neighbouring summer perennials than a variety reaching shoulder height or more. Its listed planting distance is 30 to 45 cm, a practical spacing cue for a mixed border.
If you want the same general scale without pink, Sanguisorba albiflora is listed at 60 to 75 cm tall and 40 to 60 cm wide. Its white flowerheads offer a quieter contrast among green foliage or colourful companions. Compared with Pink Tanna, it gives up some height and colour intensity for a softer visual effect. The product listing describes it as suitable for a sunny or partly shaded position and moist, well-drained soil.
Compare the silhouettes
For more vertical movement without choosing the tallest option, Sanguisorba Lilac Squirrel sits between the compact varieties and Korean Snow. DutchGrown lists it at about 115 cm, flowering from July to September. Its lilac-pink spikes droop from upright stems, so it brings a looser, more naturalistic shape than a dense mound of colour. Full sun and moist, well-drained soil are the stated preferences. Its longer stems add movement without matching the scale of the tallest pick.
The white-flowered Sanguisorba Korean Snow makes the strongest vertical statement in this shortlist. Its listing gives a height of about 150 cm and a narrow spread of about 50 cm, with bright white flowers from June to September. That height can add a floating layer behind lower planting, but the store notes that exposed stems may benefit from support. That is a practical trade-off in an open, windy garden. It is the height-first winner here, provided the site can accommodate it.
For a quick side-by-side, the listed dimensions and flowering windows point to different jobs rather than a strict ranking. Each linked name opens the corresponding UK product option through the available affiliate route.
| Variety | Listed height | Flowers and spacing | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanguisorba Pink Tanna | 60 to 90 cm | Deep pink, June to September; 30 to 45 cm apart | Middle of a mixed border |
| Sanguisorba albiflora | 60 to 75 cm | White, June to September; 40 to 50 cm apart | Compact, light-toned planting |
| Sanguisorba Lilac Squirrel | About 115 cm | Lilac-pink, July to September; 45 to 60 cm apart | Airy middle or back layer |
| Sanguisorba Korean Snow | About 150 cm | Bright white, June to September; 40 to 50 cm apart | Vertical interest at the back |
Compare current Sanguisorba varieties against the height, flower colour and spacing needed in your border.
Read the supply form
One useful difference from buying an established pot-grown perennial is the supply form. These listings are for bare-root plants, not flowering-size pots. DutchGrown says dispatch starts in mid March and describes spring planting, so the buyer should plan around seasonal arrival and planting rather than expect an instant display. Check each listing for current availability and the dispatch information attached to the selected variety.
Bare roots can suit gardeners building a border from scratch or adding several plants in planned positions. The store’s Sanguisorba planting guidance says to position the crown at soil level and water thoroughly, then keep the soil from drying out while roots develop. It describes the preferred soil as moist but well drained, so regular watering during dry spells matters more than choosing a variety based on flower colour alone.
- Choose the site before ordering: full sun or partial shade is listed for these varieties.
- Leave room for the spread as well as the height; the taller forms need a more generous gap.
- Keep young plants watered during their first growing season, especially through dry weather.
- Cut back old stems in late winter or early spring, following the product guidance.
- Settle on the border position and available height.
- Compare the listing’s mature height, spread and planting distance.
- Check current stock and spring dispatch notes for the selected bare-root variety.
This three-step check is especially helpful when comparing a plant that will arrive dormant with a pot-grown alternative already in leaf. It keeps the choice tied to the space and season rather than to a catalogue photograph alone.
Choose by border
For a compact pink accent among grasses, Salvia or other summer perennials, Pink Tanna is the clearest starting point. For a lighter, similarly compact effect, Albiflora is the better match. These two are also the safer shortlist if you do not want tall flower stems to dominate the composition, although the listed heights still make them mid-border plants rather than edging choices. For colour, Pink Tanna has the stronger accent role; Albiflora is the quieter companion.
- Most flexible colour accent: Pink Tanna.
- Quietest compact option: Albiflora.
- Mid-height movement: Lilac Squirrel.
- Tall white veil: Korean Snow.
If the planting needs more height, choose Lilac Squirrel for a middle course and a lilac-pink tone, or Korean Snow when a taller white veil is the goal. Their open stems may preserve sightlines better than a solid block of foliage, though this is a design inference rather than a store guarantee. Height also increases exposure and makes support more relevant. For a different red option, Sanguisorba Chocolate Tip appears in the same UK range; its dark flowers would suit a richer palette, though its exact listed dimensions should be checked before treating it as interchangeable with the four compared here.
Compared with a ready-grown, pot-supplied perennial, these listings ask for a different kind of planning: the plants arrive as bare roots for spring planting rather than as established foliage ready to place. That suits a gardener choosing a position and spacing in advance; a pot-grown option may be more convenient for someone who wants an established plant at purchase. The store describes its spring-planted perennials as dispatched locally from London.
Where we land
Our overall pick for most mixed borders is Pink Tanna: it combines a manageable listed height with a clear colour identity, and it is easier to slot into an existing planting plan than the 150 cm Korean Snow. Pick Albiflora if white flowers matter more than a stronger accent. For a taller, airier planting, Lilac Squirrel is the balanced middle choice; Korean Snow wins where height and bright white flowers are the priority.
The limitation is shared by all four: they prefer soil that does not dry out completely, and bare-root spring supply takes planning. Compare the exact spacing and dispatch notes on the selected UK listing before settling a position. The UK product pages show the current options and details.
