Plant Details

Satureja montana

Winter Savory

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Satureja montana.

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Common names

23 names · 20 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Winter Savory[1]
Other languages (19)
Dutch
  • Doorlevend bonenkruid
  • Steentijm
  • Winterbonenkruid[1]
French
  • Sarriette des montagnes[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Primorski vrisak[1]
Czech
  • saturejka horská[1]
Danish
Finnish
  • talvikynteli[1]
German
  • Winter-Bohnenkraut[1]
Italian
  • santoreggia montana[1]
Occitan
  • Pébré d'asé[1]
Polish
  • cząber górski[1]
Russian
  • Чабер горный[1]
Slovak
  • saturejka horská[1]
Slovenian
  • kraški šetraj[1]
Spanish
Swedish
  • vinterkyndel[1]
Turkish
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Satureja montana — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Winter Savory — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • sajolida — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • Sarriette des montagnes — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • Winter-Bohnenkraut — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • Primorski vrisak — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • saturejka horská — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • Ajedrea — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • Satureja — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • Чабер горный — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • vinterkyndel — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • Winterbonenkruid — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • geyikotu — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • kraški šetraj — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • 冬香草 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • 冬香草 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • santoreggia montana — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • vintersar — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • cząber górski — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • talvikynteli — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • Pébré d'asé — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.
  • saturejka horská — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 168442; Satureja montana.

General information

Scientific name: Satureja montana
Accepted name (Kew): Satureja montana L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Lamiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Satureja (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Winter Savory
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.15–0.46 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.3–0.46 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Multi-stemmed, Rounded, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Condiment, Tea
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Companion plant, Essential oil, Repellent, Fragrant, Bee forage, Ground cover

Description

The leaves of bean herb have a flavor reminiscent of paprika. They are often added to cooked dishes, primarily beans, for extra flavor. The leaves can also be used as a garnish for salads. They have a more intense and sharper taste than bean herb. The leaves can be used both fresh and dried, and are suitable for making herbal tea. It is recommended to harvest the leaves just before the plant starts to flower, for a spicy flavor similar to that of marjoram.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 167430; name ID 185420; Satureja L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1095911; name ID 185794; Satureja montana L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Satureja montana

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2663047, ID 79QGY: Satureja montana L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Satureja montana — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .