Poterium sanguisorba
Garden burnet
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Poterium sanguisorba (Garden burnet) is a non-native California perennial in the Rosaceae family, recognized by Only Poterium species in CA, introduced from Europe, differs from native Poteridium by perennial habit.
Garden burnet is a naturalized perennial found in the California Floristic Province, excluding the Sierra Nevada Highlands, in open and disturbed areas at elevations of 22 to 1,830 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces small greenish-white to purple flowers in compact, spherical clusters 7 to 30 millimeters long. Growing with erect, tufted stems 20 to 70 centimeters tall, it develops a robust taproot and forms dense clumps. Its basal leaves are pinnately compound with 4 to 10 leaflets on each side, each leaflet round-oblong and 5 to 20 millimeters long with fine teeth. The fruit is approximately 5 millimeters long with short-winged angles and a raised, bumpy surface texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Poterium species in CA, introduced from Europe, differs from native Poteridium by perennial habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, especially disturbed areas
Elevation: 22-1830 m
California counties: Kern, Nevada, Los Angeles, Monterey, Butte, Yuba, Tehama, Lassen, Placer, San Luis Obispo, Shasta, Marin, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Plumas, Alpine, San Diego, Sierra, Alameda, Colusa, Lake, Santa Cruz, Yolo, Madera, Sonoma, El Dorado, San Mateo
Outside California: to eastern United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Poterium sanguisorba blooms Mar-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Aphanes: Poterium has pinnate leaves with paired leaflets; Aphanes has palm-lobed leaves.; vs Acaena: Poterium fruits are smooth; Acaena fruits have hooked spines.; vs Poteridium: Poterium leaflets have shallow teeth; Poteridium leaflets are deeply lobed more than halfway.; vs Sanguisorba: Poterium has small leaflets under 20mm; Sanguisorba has large leaflets 25-50mm.
Frequently asked questions
Is Poterium sanguisorba native to California?
No. Poterium sanguisorba is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Poterium sanguisorba bloom?
Poterium sanguisorba blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Poterium sanguisorba grow?
Poterium sanguisorba occurs in Kern, Nevada, Los Angeles, Monterey, Butte, Yuba, Tehama, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 22-1830 m.
What plant family does Poterium sanguisorba belong to?
Poterium sanguisorba is in the Rosaceae family, genus Poterium.
What habitat does Poterium sanguisorba grow in?
Poterium sanguisorba grows in Open, especially disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.