Scottish growing tool

Winter Savory Variety Selector: Which One For Your Garden

Every recommendation below traces back to our full Winter Savory varieties comparison — this page is the fast route to one answer for your specific situation, no clicking through required.

If: A permanent bed you plant once and pick from year after year

Winter savory

Its evergreen habit means winter savory gives you something to pick even in a mild Scottish winter, unlike summer savory, which is gone by the first frost. It's a hardy (H5), plant-once perennial that keeps producing for years with minimal fuss, though a light spring prune keeps it from turning straggly and woody at the base.

If: Ground cover or edging along a path → Yes, it can get waterlogged

Creeping savory

Ground cover or edging is creeping savory's job specifically, nothing else in this comparison forms a low mat. Its one specific vulnerability is sitting in standing water over a wet Scottish winter, so protect it from excessive winter wet and give it the sunniest, most sheltered spot going.

If: Ground cover or edging along a path → No, it drains well

Creeping savory

Ground cover or edging is creeping savory's job specifically, nothing else in this comparison forms a low mat. It shares winter savory's H5 hardiness and does best against a south or west facing aspect, a genuine reason to give it the sunniest, most sheltered spot going.

If: Ground cover or edging along a path → Not sure, just give me the safest all-round choice or Not sure, just give me the safest all-round choice

Winter savory

For most Scottish gardens winter savory is the best all-round pick: a hardy (H5), evergreen perennial that goes in once and keeps producing for years with minimal fuss.

If: A container on a patio or balcony

Winter savory

Winter savory tolerates containers if you'd rather not resow annually, though a pot left standing outdoors over winter collects more water around the roots than open ground does, cutting against the drainage it needs. Raising the pot on feet, or moving it under cover for winter, addresses that risk.

Answer these as a quick wizard instead →
Winter Savory growing guide →Full Winter Savory varieties comparison →

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