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Celebrate Spring by Cathy Manus-Gray, Herban Gardens
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Salad Burnet
One of my favorite spring herbs is salad burnet. It's one of the first plants to surface in the garden once the weather begins to warm.
Salad burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) has been used medicinally for more than 2000 years. Its roots were used in Chinese medicine during the Han dynasty (206BC-AD23). In Europe during the eighteenth century, burnet was thought to protect people from the plague. It was one of the 21 herbs described in an antiplague recipe.
Salad burnet is hardy in Zones 4-8. Plant it in a rich, well-drained soil in full or partial shade. It is bushy perennial that forms a clump in the garden. Remove flowers when they appear or the plant will spread by dropping seed. It grows up to 3 feet with a spread of 9 to 24 inches.
The name sanguisorba comes from the latin sanguis "blood," and sorbere, "to soak up." Throughout history herbalists have prepared burnet teas and ointments to stop bleeding and soothe wounds. It is a bitter, astringent, and cooling herb that has also been used to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Today it is best known for culinary use. Add the fresh, young, cucumber flavored leaves to salad greens, cole slaw, flavored vinegars, and butters. It is also good with cream cheese as a spread or with sour cream or plain yogurt as a dip for vegetables. Add it to chicken, egg, or tuna salads. The leaves add Vitamin C and tannins to your diet.
Spring Gardening. In late spring, try your hand at propagating herbs by ground layering. Pin down a branch of thyme, lavender or sage using a florist u-shaped pin. When the branch has rooted you may lift the new plant and pot into a container, place it in a new location in your garden, or share it with a friend.
To Your Health. If you haven't had your tetanus shot updated within the last 10 years, now is the time to do so. Gardeners and others who are frequently in contact with the soil are especially at risk. Puncture wounds from thorns, nails, etc. are the most dangerous, but superficial scratches can also be serious or even lethal. The tetanus bacterium is common in fresh animal waste though composted manure is said to be safe.
Special Spring Days. Celebrate May Day on May 1. Be sure to enjoy a batch of traditional German Mei Wein (May Wine). Infuse a few sprigs of sweet woodruff flowers in a bottle of sweet white wine for twenty-four hours. You can dilute the wine with lemonade and float strawberries in it. If you do not drink alcohol use a sparkling white grape juice instead.
**The above information is not to be considered medical advice. It is for education purposes only.
© 2008 by Cathy Manus-Gray