Cold hardiness

Future

2050

2100

These values are location-based: this location's current hardiness is the baseline, and the 2050 value is a projected future climate for this same location.

Now

Zone 6b

USDA

Published baseline for this location from 1991-2020.

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer

Well-suited

2050

Zone 7a

Plotwright

Projected zone for this same location in 2050 (2041-2070) using SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry).

Well-suited

In plain terms: This location is in Zone 6b today. Its hardiness profile is cold winters, and coldest nights are typically around -3°F. By 2050, the projected hardiness zone is Zone 7a based on SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry). That is a +0.5-zone shift from Zone 6b to Zone 7a by 2050.

✓

Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.

Heat tolerance

Future

2050

2100

Heat tolerance values are location-based too: heat days today are observed at this site, and the 2050 value projects this same location under a future climate.

Loading AHS heat-zone data for this location...

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 45 ecoregions — 45 climate-resilient through 2070. Best matches first.

Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests

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Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests

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Arizona Mountains forests

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Atlantic coastal pine barrens

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Blue Mountains forests

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California coastal sage and chaparral

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Canadian Aspen forests and parklands

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Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests

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Central Tallgrass prairie

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Central-Southern Cascades Forests

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What it needs

Conditions

Light

Full sun

Water

Low water

Spacing

12"

Habit

Erect, multi-stemmed bushy annual aromatic herb

Care tips

•

Sow in spring after frost and grow in full sun with sharp drainage — summer savory does poorly in damp soil and shade.

•

Keep moisture low; the plant is drought and dry-soil tolerant once established.

•

Harvest stems before the flowers open, when the leaf flavor peaks, and cut back to keep the plant productive.

Lifecycle

Planting

Grown as a warm-season annual. Sow seed in spring after frost danger passes (or start indoors a few weeks before the last frost) in full sun — 6 or more hours of direct sun a day — in well-drained, high-organic-matter loam at alkaline pH. NC State Extension lists a wide adaptable range of USDA hardiness zones 2a through 11b for the seasonal crop.

Transplanting

Set hardened-off starts out after the last spring frost, spacing plants about 12 inches apart; the plant ultimately spreads 1-3 feet wide (NC State Extension).

Early growth

Give the plant good drainage — NC State Extension notes it does not tolerate damp soil and prefers full sun, not shade. It is drought and dry-soil tolerant once established, so keep moisture on the low side. Growth is rapid.

Maturity

Mature plants form an erect, multi-stemmed clump about 1.5 feet tall with small lilac, pink, or white flowers in summer. Harvest leaves before the flowers open, when the flavor is best, and cut stems to keep the plant productive.

Propagation

Grown from seed as an annual; NC State Extension also lists stem cuttings as a propagation method. Plants can self-seed, but most gardeners re-sow each spring.

Pollination

Self-fertile

Self-fertile like other mints (Lamiaceae) — a single plant sets seed without a partner, and culinary growers harvest the foliage before bloom anyway. When allowed to flower, the small lilac, pink, or white summer flowers attract bees (NC State Extension), so the plant earns modest pollinator value even though it does not depend on pollinators to reproduce.

Plants don't grow alone

Nectar forage

Bee

European honeybee (Apis mellifera)

NC State Extension lists the summer flowers as attracting bees; the small lilac-to-white flowers are a nectar source for honey bees when the plant is allowed to bloom.

Nectar forage

Bee

Common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens)

Open Lamiaceae flowers of the savory group are commonly worked by bumblebees; plausible by analogy to the documented bee attraction, not separately cited for this species.

For people

Edible

A classic culinary herb with a mild, slightly peppery flavor. NC State Extension notes the leaves can be used raw or cooked as a flavoring; the herb is traditionally paired with beans, soups, meats, and cabbage, and flavor is best harvested before the plant flowers. NC State lists the plant as non-toxic to horses, dogs, and cats.

Edible parts

leaves

Culinary use

Leaves used fresh or dried to flavor beans, soups, stews, meats, cabbage, vinegars, and butter; flavor is best before the flowers open. Mild and slightly peppery — the milder, more delicate annual savory.

Pet toxicity

NC State Extension lists Satureja hortensis as non-toxic to horses, dogs, and cats.

Native range

AHS heat range

6-12

Climate notes

•

NC State Extension lists Satureja hortensis as an annual herb in the Lamiaceae, native from southeastern Europe to western Asia, adaptable across USDA hardiness zones 2a-11b grown as a warm-season annual in full sun.

•

The plant is drought, dry-soil, and deer tolerant (NC State Extension) and wants good drainage; it does not tolerate damp soil or shade, so site it in a sunny, sharply drained spot and keep moisture low.

•

Because it is grown as an annual harvested within a single warm season, the wide USDA zone range describes where the seasonal crop succeeds rather than winter survival of a perennial — gardeners across nearly all of North America can grow it from a spring sowing (NC State Extension).

In the designer

Growth over time

9" tall · 6-18" spread

Seedling and young branching plant; growth is rapid and leaves can be harvested within about two months of sowing (NC State Extension).

Design roles: Edible · Container · Border

Seasonal interest

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Filled = the plant has seasonal interest · ▾ now = your current season

Summer savory

At a glance

Related products

Why it matters

Cold hardiness

Heat tolerance

Where this plant fits

What it needs

Lifecycle

Pollination

Plants don't grow alone

For people

Native range

Climate notes

In the designer

Seasonal interest

Sources & citations