Leaf
Paul Fabre, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Winter savory
Satureja montana L.
Also known as: Mountain savory
Family: Lamiaceae
20 to 40 cm tall
Rock gardens, vegetable gardens, dry gardens, poor free-draining soils
Flowering: July – September
Full sun
Hardy to -20°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its peppery fragrance makes it the traditional herb for grilled dishes and bean dishes in the south of France.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, small, linear, leathery, very aromatic
🌸 Flowers
Small white-pink to mauve flowers, grouped in short spikes
🍎 Fruits
Small dry achenes
🪵 Bark
Low woody stems, cushion-forming habit
🗺️ Distribution
Southern Europe, Mediterranean basin; found on dry slopes in the south of France, widely cultivated elsewhere.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Small mauve flowers, very nectar-rich, attractive to bees in late summer.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Aromatic borders, dry rock gardens, cottage gardens; very fragrant evergreen foliage used in cooking.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity, culinary aromatic plant.
🌿 Other Lamiaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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