Sanguisorba officinalis
Great burnet
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Sanguisorba officinalis (Great burnet) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by Only Sanguisorba species in California, representing the southern extent of this circumboreal genus.
Great burnet is a native perennial ranked 2B.2 by CNPS, found in central Coast Ranges, northwestern Klamath Ranges, and northern North Coast Ranges in bogs, streams, and serpentine habitats at elevations of 120 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces dark purple to reddish-purple flowers in dense, elliptic-ovoid clusters 12 to 20 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 50 to 140 centimeters tall, it spreads through a thick, creeping rhizome. Its large basal leaves have 3 to 6 leaflets on each side, with ovate-oblong blades 25 to 50 millimeters long and more than 15 distinct teeth. The fruit is short-winged, 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long, with smooth surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Sanguisorba species in California, representing the southern extent of this circumboreal genus
Habitat and range
Habitat: Bogs, streams, often serpentine
Elevation: 120-1400 m
California counties: Placer, Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Sanguisorba officinalis blooms Jun-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Acaena: Sanguisorba fruits are smooth; Acaena fruits are spiny burrs.; vs Sanicula: Sanguisorba has compound leaves with paired leaflets; Sanicula has palm-lobed or divided leaves.; vs Aphanes: Sanguisorba has large pinnate leaves with distinct leaflets; Aphanes has tiny palm-lobed leaves.; vs Poteridium: Sanguisorba leaflets have teeth along edges; Poteridium leaflets are deeply lobed more than halfway.; vs Poterium: Sanguisorba has large leaflets over 25mm; Poterium has small leaflets under 20mm.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sanguisorba officinalis native to California?
Yes. Sanguisorba officinalis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sanguisorba officinalis bloom?
Sanguisorba officinalis blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Sanguisorba officinalis grow?
Sanguisorba officinalis occurs in Placer, Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, at elevations of 120-1400 m.
What plant family does Sanguisorba officinalis belong to?
Sanguisorba officinalis is in the Rosaceae family, genus Sanguisorba.
Is Sanguisorba officinalis rare or endangered?
Sanguisorba officinalis carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.