Botanical profile

Summer Savory

Latin name
Summer savory
Common name
Summer savory
Type
Annual aromatic herb
Family
Lamiaceae

Summer savory is an annual herb much appreciated for its narrow, green, and very fragrant foliage, with a peppery, warm, and slightly pungent taste. Its aroma is reminiscent of a blend of thyme, pepper, and Mediterranean herbs, making it an ideal plant for flavoring beans, legumes, grilled meats, sauces, soups, marinades, roasted vegetables, and stews. Compact and productive, it integrates very well into vegetable gardens, herb boxes, planters, and containers near the kitchen.

Easy to grow, summer savory prefers a full sun, warm, and well-ventilated location, in light, fertile, and very well-drained soil. It tolerates drier conditions quite well once established but appreciates regular watering to produce tender and aromatic foliage. Frequent harvesting of young stems promotes a denser, more branched, and more productive plant throughout the season. Its leaves can be used fresh or dried, depending on culinary needs.

Both aromatic, decorative, and useful for pollinators when it flowers, summer savory is an excellent plant for creating a fragrant, easy-to-maintain gourmet garden. Its strong flavor adds character to recipes without overpowering other ingredients. It is a perfect herb for gardeners looking for a tasty, simple-to-grow, and very versatile annual plant in the kitchen.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Peppery aromatic foliage ideal for beans, grilled meats, and summer cooking
Vegetable garden, herbs, balcony, container, Mediterranean cuisine
Container growing
Excellent container plant in well-drained pot
Seasonal care
Harvest young shoots as needed; prune before flowering to encourage a compact habit; reseed annually
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Not hardy
Exposure
Sun
Watering
Moderate; allow the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings
Humidity
Low to average humidity; prefers well-drained soil
Fertilization
Light compost at sowing; avoid excessive fertilizer
Soil type
Light, fertile, rather dry, and well-drained soil
Soil pH
Neutral to slightly alkaline
Minimum temperature
32 °F
Propagation method
Direct sowing
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Summer
Flower color
White to pale pink
Fruiting
Seeds at the end of the season
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Obsolete
Shape
Low, branched, bushy habit
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
25 to 45 cm (10 to 18 inches)
Width
20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches)
Growth rate
Rapid growth
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Beans, onions, tomatoes, basil
Spacing
20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches)
Harvest period
Leaves from spring to autumn
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

Deer
Less attractive or generally tolerated by deer

Deer

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.