Practical
Plants

Satureja hortensis

Summer Savory

an annual member of the Satureja genus in the family Labiatae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.4 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[1][6][7][16][17][18][21]. An aromatic, slightly peppery flavour, they are used mainly as a flavouring for cooked foods, especially the more difficult to digest foods such as beans where they compliment the flavour and reduce flatulence[5][13]. They are also used as a garnish for salads etc[5]. The leaves can be used fresh or dried[5]. A herb tea is made from the leaves[3]. The leaves are harvested just before the plant comes into flower[5]. A tangy, marjoram-like flavour[5]. The flowering shoots contain about 0.5% essential oil[23], this is used as a food flavouring[20][22][2].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Summer savory is most often used as a culinary herb, but it also has marked medicinal benefits, especially upon the whole digestive system[15]. The plant has a milder action than the closely related winter savory, S. montana[15]. The whole herb, and especially the flowering shoots, is antiseptic, aromatic, carminative, digestive, expectorant and stomachic[19][23][3][10]. Taken internally, it is said to be a sovereign remedy for colic and a cure for flatulence[19], whilst it is also used to treat nausea, diarrhoea, bronchial congestion, sore throat and menstrual disorders[12]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[12]. A sprig of the plant, rubbed onto bee or wasp stings, brings instant relief[19]. The plant is harvested in the summer when in flower and can be used fresh or dried[12]. The essential oil forms an ingredient in lotions for the scalp in cases of incipient baldness[23]. An ointment made from the plant is used externally to relieve arthritic joints[23].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Aromatic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Stings
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The essential oil from the flowering shoots is used extensively in perfumery, giving a particular quality to the fragrance[23]. When grown near beans it repels insect pests[9].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
S.E. Europe to W. Asia.
Habitat
Dry gravelly and stony slopes to 1500 metres[24].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow April in situ and only just cover[1]. Germinates in about 2 weeks. The plant strongly resents root disturbance so do not transplant it. In areas with mild winters an autumn sowing will provide an earlier supply of leaves[8].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A very easily grown plant when given suitable conditions, it prefers a rich light soil with plenty of moisture[1][19][3][16] and succeeds in a hot dry sunny position[8]. It prefers growing in an alkaline soil[8] but is not too fussy. It is very intolerant of soils that remain damp and dislikes shade[8]. Summer savory is often grown as a culinary herb. It is a good companion plant in the garden, where it helps to repel insect pests and grows especially well with onions and beans[3][4][7]. A fast-growing plant, it can be harvested within 2 months of sowing the seed[13]. If cut back as the flower buds appear, it will produce a fresh flush of leaves[1]. Summer savory seeds can prevent the germination of nearby seeds[9]. The leaves have an aromatic fragrance[14]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[23][3]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[11].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  4. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  7. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2

  10. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  11. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  12. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2

  14. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  15. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  16. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩1↩2

  17. Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975-00-00

    ↩

  18. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩

  19. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  20. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  21. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩

  22. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  23. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  24. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

Edit this page