What's the difference between summer savory and winter savory?

Summer savory (Satureja hortensis) is a tender annual with soft, delicate stems and a milder flavour, grown fresh from seed each year. Winter savory (Satureja montana) is a genuinely hardy perennial (Zone 5–6) with a woodier, low-shrub habit and a stronger, more peppery flavour. The names refer to hardiness, not the season you grow them in — both are usable fresh through summer.

Is winter savory actually hardy in Canada?

Yes — winter savory is hardy to roughly Zone 5–6, surviving outdoors unprotected across much of southern and central Canada, similar to thyme and sage. In colder Zone 3–4 regions it benefits from reliable snow cover or winter mulch, and may still struggle in the harshest Prairie winters without protection.

When should I plant summer savory in Canada?

Direct sow summer savory after your last frost date once soil has warmed — it has no frost tolerance. Starting seed indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost gives a head start in shorter-season regions, though direct sowing works well in most of Canada given its fast, roughly 60-day maturity.

When should I plant winter savory in Canada?

Plant or transplant after your last frost date, or start seed indoors 8–10 weeks earlier — winter savory seed can be slow to germinate. As a hardy perennial once established, exact first-year timing matters less than giving it a full season to root in before winter.

Which savory should I choose for cooking?

Summer savory is the classic choice for fresh use with beans and legumes (it's traditionally called the 'bean herb' for good reason), with a milder, more versatile flavour. Winter savory's stronger, more peppery taste holds up better in slow-cooked dishes and, since it's a returning perennial, is the better choice if you want a permanent kitchen-garden fixture rather than replanting every year.

Does savory have any pest or growing problems in Canada?

Both types are relatively trouble-free. Winter savory occasionally gets woody and less productive after several years, similar to sage — a light spring prune keeps it compact, and propagating a new plant from cuttings every few years maintains fresh growth. Summer savory has few notable pest issues beyond the usual garden generalists.

CANADA GROWING GUIDE

Growing Savory in Canada — Summer or Winter?

Two genuinely different plants share the name — a fast tender annual and a genuinely hardy Zone 5–6 perennial. Which one fits your garden depends on what you actually want.

"Savory" isn't one plant in a Canadian garden — summer and winter savory differ in hardiness, habit, and flavour, and the names describe their winter survival, not when you grow them.

Want an easy, milder annual you replant each year? Summer savory. Want a genuinely hardy, stronger-flavoured perennial that comes back on its own? Winter savory.

Growing savory in Canada: Summer savory = tender annual, milder flavour, direct sow after last frost. Winter savory = hardy perennial (Zone 5–6), stronger peppery flavour, survives outdoors like thyme/sage. Choose based on whether you want an easy annual or a permanent fixture.

When should you plant savory where you garden?

Get your city's frost dates, indoor seed-starting dates, and this week's planting jobs — three free tools.

📅 What to Plant Now ❄️ Frost Dates 🌱 Seed Starting

🌱 Need seeds? West Coast Seeds (a BC company) sells untreated, Canadian-grown herb seed.

🥦 Shop herb seeds at West Coast Seeds →

🌿 Growing other genuinely hardy Mediterranean herbs? See Growing Thyme and Growing Sage — winter savory keeps similar company.

Summer Savory vs. Winter Savory

	Summer Savory	Winter Savory
Life cycle	Tender annual	Hardy perennial — Zone 5–6
Flavour	Milder, more delicate	Stronger, peppery
Habit	Soft, upright	Low, woody shrub

Common Savory Problems in Canada

Woody winter savory after a few years

Like sage, winter savory gets woody and sparse with age. A light spring prune and periodic propagation from cuttings keeps it fresh.

Buying the wrong one for the goal

Check the plant tag — winter savory for a permanent hardy fixture, summer savory for an easy, milder annual. They're easy to mix up at a garden centre.