Winter savory  - Satureja montana - €7 per plant 

A hardy evergreen herb with excellent  culinary and medicinal uses. In the herb garden, alongside a sunny garden wall, or in containers, the plant releases a wonderful aroma when brushed against.  Winter savory has been used for hundreds of years. Both it and summer savory have been grown and used side by side. Both have a strong spicy flavour and a good reputation in the kitchen.   In addition to this, medicinal properties of this plant are numerous, making it a worthy choice for any garden.  It also makes great ground cover for dry and sunny places and is perfect for containers, either alone or in combination with plants that won’t shade it out. The flowers open in the summer,  adorning the plant with tiny pink/white blossoms that are very attractive to insects.  It makes a great companion plant, working especially well with onions and beans to help repel pests. To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: S. Europe to N. Africa
  • native habitat: Dry scrub and rocky places, usually on calcareous soils
  • family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae

Predators

  • No experience of any pests or predators 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full sun
  • soil pH:  acid-neutral -basic alkaline  (can grow in very alkaline soils)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a - 8b
  • Prefers well-drained soil
  • It cannot grow in the shade
  • Can tolerate drought.

Known hazards 

  • No known hazards

Overview

  • 10 cm  x 12 cm Plant bag 
  • Evergreen Shrub growing to 0.4 m by 0.3m at a medium rate
  • In leaf year round, although sometimes in cold climates it can shed leaves. It is in flower from Aug  to October
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects
  • Noted for attracting wildlife.
  • Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
  • Cannot grow in the shade.
  • Prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate drought.

Characteristics

  • form: Evergreen shrub
  • habit: spreading to form a mat,has a low bunching habit. 
  • height x width (m): 0.4m x 0.3m  

Products 

  • Leaf:A very useful herb, the strongly aromatic leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods and it makes a good tea.
  • Medicinal: Winter savory has marked medicinal benefits, especially upon the whole digestive system. A sprig of the plant rubbed onto bee or wasp stings, brings instant relief.
  • A good dense ground cover plant for sunny positions.

Functions, behaviours

  • In temperate climates it can go dormant in winter.  All the stems which appear dead will leaf out again in the spring.
  • The plant has a stronger action than the closely related summer savory
  • It can be used as a companion plant for beans, deterring bean weevils.
  • It is very intolerant of soils that remain damp, especially in the winter, and dislikes shade
  • Easy to grow, it can make an attractive border plant for any culinary herb garden.
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project