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Herb Full Sun Low water

Savory

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Peppery herb in two forms: summer savory (annual) and winter savory (perennial). Hardy enough to withstand light frosts down to -10°C, savory performs best when daytime temperatures stay between 12°C and 24°C. It needs full sun (6-8 hours of direct light daily) and minimal watering — it prefers dry conditions between drinks — leaves are ready for picking in about 60-80 days. A kitchen essential that grows equally well on a sunny windowsill, a balcony pot, or a dedicated herb bed.

Harvest 60-80 days
Temp Range -10°C — 30°C
Frost Tolerant ❄

Quick Answer: How to Grow Savory

Savory takes 60-80 days to harvest. It grows best in 12–24°C with full sun and low watering. Savory is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to -10°C. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Savory in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Full Sun
💧
Water
Low
❄️
Frost
Tolerant
📅
Harvest
60-80 days

Temperature Range

12-24°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 12–24°C Tolerates: -10–30°C
Tropical suitable: No
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

Summer savory is more delicate. Winter savory is woody and hardier. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Overwatering is the most common mistake. Let soil dry out between waterings and ensure drainage is excellent.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: -10°C to 30°C
  • Optimal growing: 12°C to 24°C
  • Harvest in 60-80 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Savory is frost-tolerant, meaning it can survive light frosts and even thrive in cooler temperatures.
  • 🌱 Savory needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth.
  • 🌱 Savory is drought-tolerant — perfect for gardeners who tend to forget watering!

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Summer savory (Satureja hortensis) is an annual; winter savory (S. montana) is a perennial subshrub. Both prefer very well-drained, lean, alkaline to neutral soil at pH 6.5–8.0 and full sun — conditions that concentrate the aromatic oils responsible for their peppery, thyme-like flavor. Summer savory germinates best from seed sown directly after frost risk passes, pressed lightly into the soil surface (it needs light to germinate) and thinned to 15–20 cm spacing. Winter savory is better propagated from cuttings taken in spring or purchased as a plant; seed germination is slow and erratic. Both species are drought-tolerant once established and need watering only in prolonged dry spells. Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilizers; a light balanced feed at planting is sufficient. Shear winter savory by half in early spring to encourage compact new growth. Both species are traditional companions to bean plants — in German cooking, savory is called Bohnenkraut ("bean herb") and is planted alongside beans to repel bean weevils.

Common Pests & Problems

Root rot from overwatering or heavy, poorly drained soil is the primary challenge for both species — symptoms include sudden wilting and blackening at the base of stems; ensure perfect drainage and allow soil to dry fully between waterings. Spider mites can be problematic in hot, dry indoor conditions; increase humidity and apply neem oil if infestations are significant. Leafhoppers occasionally feed on leaves in summer, causing stippled, silvered foliage; damage is rarely severe in well-grown plants. Savory is generally highly pest-resistant due to its volatile oils. Winter savory can become woody and unproductive after 3–4 years — take cuttings to propagate a new plant before the old one deteriorates.

Harvest & Storage

Harvest summer savory just before flowering begins, when flavor is most intense — cut back by two-thirds, leaving growth nodes below to regrow for a second cutting. Winter savory can be harvested year-round by snipping stem tips. Both species are used fresh or dried. To dry, hang small bunches in a warm, ventilated, dark space; both species dry well and retain excellent flavor. Dried summer savory retains its best quality for 12 months; winter savory's more resinous oils keep up to 18 months. Savory is an essential herb for bean dishes, game meats, herb stuffings, and the classic Herbes de Provence blend.

Popular Varieties

Summer savory has no widely distributed named cultivars — most seed is sold simply as "Summer Savory" (Satureja hortensis). "Aromata" is a compact German selection with particularly high essential oil content. Winter savory (Satureja montana) is similarly sold without widely known named varieties, though "Nana" is a compact dwarf form ideal for rock gardens and container growing. "Creeping Winter Savory" (Satureja spicigera) is a ground-hugging species that produces excellent flavor and can be used as a lawn substitute in dry, alkaline soils — a beautiful and useful ornamental herb.

Where to Grow Savory

Savory can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK medium
Amsterdam, NL medium
Ankara, TR medium
Antalya, TR medium
Athens, GR medium
Barcelona, ES medium
Bari, IT medium
Belgrade, RS medium
Bergen, NO medium
Berlin, DE medium
Bilbao, ES medium
Bologna, IT medium
Bordeaux, FR medium
Bratislava, SK medium
Brussels, BE medium
Bucharest, RO medium
Budapest, HU medium
Catania, IT medium
Cologne, DE medium
Copenhagen, DK medium
Corfu, GR medium
Cork, IE medium
Dublin, IE medium
Dubrovnik, HR medium
Edinburgh, GB medium
Florence, IT medium
Frankfurt, DE medium
Gdansk, PL medium
Genoa, IT medium
Glasgow, GB medium
Gothenburg, SE medium
Hamburg, DE medium
Helsinki, FI medium
Heraklion, GR medium
Istanbul, TR medium
Izmir, TR medium
Krakow, PL medium
Kyiv, UA medium
Limassol, CY medium
Lisbon, PT medium
Ljubljana, SI medium
London, GB medium
Lyon, FR medium
Madrid, ES medium
Malaga, ES medium
Marseille, FR medium
Milan, IT medium
Munich, DE medium
Naples, IT medium
Nice, FR medium
Nicosia, CY medium
Oslo, NO medium
Palermo, IT medium
Paris, FR medium
Porto, PT medium
Poznan, PL medium
Prague, CZ medium
Reykjavik, IS medium
Riga, LV medium
Rome, IT medium
Seville, ES medium
Sofia, BG medium
Split, HR medium
Stockholm, SE medium
Strasbourg, FR medium
Stuttgart, DE medium
Tallinn, EE medium
Thessaloniki, GR medium
Tirana, AL medium
Toulouse, FR medium
Turin, IT medium
Turku, FI medium
Valencia, ES medium
Valletta, MT medium
Verona, IT medium
Vienna, AT medium
Vilnius, LT medium
Warsaw, PL medium
Zagreb, HR medium
Zurich, CH medium

🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN medium
Almaty, KZ medium
Bali, ID medium
Bandung, ID medium
Bangalore, IN medium
Bangkok, TH medium
Beijing, CN medium
Busan, KR medium
Cebu, PH medium
Chandigarh, IN medium
Chengdu, CN medium
Chennai, IN medium
Chiang Mai, TH medium
Chittagong, BD medium
Chongqing, CN medium
Coimbatore, IN medium
Colombo, LK medium
Da Nang, VN medium
Dalian, CN medium
Davao, PH medium
Delhi, IN medium
Dhaka, BD medium
Dharan, NP medium
Fukuoka, JP medium
Galle, LK medium
Guangzhou, CN medium
Hangzhou, CN medium
Hanoi, VN medium
Harbin, CN medium
Ho Chi Minh City, VN medium
Hong Kong, HK medium
Hyderabad, IN medium
Incheon, KR medium
Indore, IN medium
Islamabad, PK medium
Jaipur, IN medium
Jakarta, ID medium
Jeju, KR medium
Johor Bahru, MY medium
Karachi, PK medium
Kathmandu, NP medium
Kochi, IN medium
Kolkata, IN medium
Kuala Lumpur, MY medium
Kunming, CN medium
Kyoto, JP medium
Lahore, PK medium
Lucknow, IN medium
Manila, PH medium
Mumbai, IN medium
Nagoya, JP medium
Nanjing, CN medium
Nha Trang, VN medium
Okinawa, JP medium
Osaka, JP medium
Pattaya, TH medium
Penang, MY medium
Phnom Penh, KH medium
Pune, IN medium
Sapporo, JP medium
Seoul, KR medium
Shanghai, CN medium
Shenzhen, CN medium
Siem Reap, KH medium
Singapore, SG medium
Surabaya, ID medium
Surat, IN medium
Taipei, TW medium
Tashkent, UZ medium
Tbilisi, GE medium
Tokyo, JP medium
Ulaanbaatar, MN medium
Varanasi, IN medium
Vientiane, LA medium
Visakhapatnam, IN medium
Wuhan, CN medium
Xi'an, CN medium
Xiamen, CN medium
Yangon, MM medium

🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US medium
Anchorage, US medium
Atlanta, US medium
Austin, US medium
Baltimore, US medium
Baton Rouge, US medium
Boise, US medium
Boston, US medium
Bridgetown, BB medium
Buffalo, US medium
Calgary, CA medium
Cancun, MX medium
Charleston, US medium
Charlotte, US medium
Chattanooga, US medium
Chicago, US medium
Denver, US medium
Des Moines, US medium
Detroit, US medium
Edmonton, CA medium
El Paso, US medium
Fargo, US medium
Fresno, US medium
Guadalajara, MX medium
Halifax, CA medium
Hartford, US medium
Havana, CU medium
Honolulu, US medium
Houston, US medium
Jacksonville, US medium
Kansas City, US medium
Kingston, JM medium
Knoxville, US medium
Las Vegas, US medium
Little Rock, US medium
Los Angeles, US medium
Louisville, US medium
Lubbock, US medium
Madison, US medium
Memphis, US medium
Mexico City, MX medium
Miami, US medium
Milwaukee, US medium
Minneapolis, US medium
Monterrey, MX medium
Montreal, CA medium
Nashville, US medium
New Orleans, US medium
New York, US medium
Oaxaca, MX medium
Oklahoma City, US medium
Omaha, US medium
Ottawa, CA medium
Panama City, PA medium
Phoenix, US medium
Pittsburgh, US medium
Portland, US medium
Puebla, MX medium
Quebec City, CA medium
Raleigh, US medium
Richmond, US medium
Sacramento, US medium
Salt Lake City, US medium
San Diego, US medium
San Francisco, US medium
San Jose, CR medium
Santo Domingo, DO medium
Saskatoon, CA medium
Savannah, US medium
Seattle, US medium
Spokane, US medium
St. Louis, US medium
Tampa, US medium
Toronto, CA medium
Tucson, US medium
Vancouver, CA medium
Victoria, CA medium
Winnipeg, CA medium

🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI medium
Accra, GH medium
Addis Ababa, ET medium
Algiers, DZ medium
Antananarivo, MG medium
Arusha, TZ medium
Bamako, ML medium
Bloemfontein, ZA medium
Cairo, EG medium
Cape Town, ZA medium
Casablanca, MA medium
Dakar, SN medium
Dar es Salaam, TZ medium
Douala, CM medium
Durban, ZA medium
Entebbe, UG medium
Fez, MA medium
Freetown, SL medium
Harare, ZW medium
Johannesburg, ZA medium
Kampala, UG medium
Kigali, RW medium
Kinshasa, CD medium
Lagos, NG medium
Libreville, GA medium
Lilongwe, MW medium
Lome, TG medium
Luanda, AO medium
Lusaka, ZM medium
Maputo, MZ medium
Marrakech, MA medium
Mombasa, KE medium
Nairobi, KE medium
Ouagadougou, BF medium
Port Louis, MU medium
Pretoria, ZA medium
Tunis, TN medium
Windhoek, NA medium
Zanzibar, TZ medium

🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE medium
Asuncion, PY medium
Barranquilla, CO medium
Belem, BR medium
Bogota, CO medium
Brasilia, BR medium
Buenos Aires, AR medium
Cali, CO medium
Campinas, BR medium
Caracas, VE medium
Cartagena, CO medium
Concepcion, CL medium
Cordoba, AR medium
Curitiba, BR medium
Cusco, PE medium
Fortaleza, BR medium
Georgetown, GY medium
Goiania, BR medium
Guayaquil, EC medium
La Paz, BO medium
Lima, PE medium
Manaus, BR medium
Medellin, CO medium
Mendoza, AR medium
Montevideo, UY medium
Paramaribo, SR medium
Port of Spain, TT medium
Porto Alegre, BR medium
Quito, EC medium
Recife, BR medium
Rio de Janeiro, BR medium
Rosario, AR medium
Salvador, BR medium
Santa Cruz, BO medium
Santiago, CL medium
Sao Paulo, BR medium
Sucre, BO medium
Trujillo, PE medium
Valparaiso, CL medium

🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU medium
Alice Springs, AU medium
Auckland, NZ medium
Brisbane, AU medium
Cairns, AU medium
Canberra, AU medium
Christchurch, NZ medium
Darwin, AU medium
Dunedin, NZ medium
Gold Coast, AU medium
Hamilton, NZ medium
Hobart, AU medium
Melbourne, AU medium
Noumea, NC medium
Perth, AU medium
Suva, FJ medium
Sydney, AU medium
Townsville, AU medium
Wellington, NZ medium

🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE medium
Amman, JO medium
Baghdad, IQ medium
Beirut, LB medium
Doha, QA medium
Dubai, AE medium
Erbil, IQ medium
Jeddah, SA medium
Kuwait City, KW medium
Manama, BH medium
Muscat, OM medium
Riyadh, SA medium
Sana'a, YE medium
Tabriz, IR medium
Tehran, IR medium
Tel Aviv, IL medium

When should I plant savory in my city?

The best time to plant savory depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 12°C and 24°C. Since savory is frost tolerant, you can plant it before the last frost date. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow savory in winter?

Yes, savory is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to -10°C. In many climates, it can be grown through winter with some protection.

Get Savory Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Savory seeds and starter plants online.

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Similar Growing Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions about Savory

When should I plant savory?

The best time to plant savory depends on your local climate. Savory grows best in temperatures between 12°C and 24°C (can tolerate -10°C to 30°C). Savory is frost tolerant, so it can be planted earlier in spring or later in fall. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can savory grow in tropical climates?

Savory is not well-suited for tropical climates. It prefers cooler conditions with temperatures between 12°C and 24°C. In tropical areas, it may bolt, fail to fruit, or suffer from heat stress. Consider growing it in cooler seasons or at higher elevations.

How long does savory take to grow?

Savory typically takes 60-80 days from planting to harvest. It requires full sun and low watering. Summer savory is more delicate. Winter savory is woody and hardier. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Overwatering is the most common mistake. Let soil dry out between waterings and ensure drainage is excellent.

Find the Best Time to Plant Savory

See the planting calendar for Savory in these popular cities:

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

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