Plotwright
Home
Summer savory
Habit (mature) · Karelj / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Limited coverage
Summer savory
Satureja hortensis
A fast, bushy annual culinary herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native from southeastern Europe to western Asia. NC State Extension describes an erect, multi-stemmed plant about 1.5 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide, with linear, gland-dotted, aromatic dark-green leaves and small lilac, pink, or white summer flowers. It grows rapidly — harvestable within a couple of months of sowing — and is prized for its mild, slightly peppery flavor. Grown as a warm-season annual, it wants full sun and sharp drainage and does poorly in damp soil or shade.
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: moderate (63/100)
Edible
Container
Border
Light
Full sun
Water
Low water
Mature size
18" tall · 12" apart
Hardy in zones
2a-11b
brutally cold to nearly frost-free winters
Summer heat range
Warm-Extreme
warm to extreme summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
No
Related products
Sponsored
Winter protection and storage
Frost cloth, plant covers, bulb/tuber storage supplies, burlap, and cold frames.
Search winter protection and storage on Amazon
Container growing
Grow bags, planters, potting mix, saucers, casters, and container irrigation.
Search container growing on Amazon
Seed starting
Trays, cells, humidity domes, heat mats, grow lights, and seed-starting mix.
Search seed starting on Amazon
Drainage and aeration
Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.
Search drainage and aeration on Amazon
Acid-soil care
Sulfur, acid-loving plant fertilizer, pine bark, and pH monitoring.
Search acid-soil care on Amazon
Soil testing and pH
pH meters, soil test kits, lab mailers, and amendment calculators.
Search soil testing and ph on Amazon
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
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.
Climate notes
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Summer savory (Satureja hortensis). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/summer-savory
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
© 2026 Plotwright