Salad Burnet

Salad Burnet leaves are used as an ingredient in salads, dressings, sauces, summer drinks and in claret. It is also used to flavour vinegar, butter and cream cheese. Use the youngest leaves as they tend to become bitter as they age, old leaves are cut back to encourage new growth. The flavour is described as mild cucumber.

Attractive to pollinators, the flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, moths and beneficial insects. It is also good forage for wildlife and livestock and provides shelter and seeds for birds.

The unusual crimson, ball-shaped blooms and ferny, serrated-leaf foliage are considered ornamental and used in floral arrangements.

Also known as garden burnet, small burnet and pimpernelle.