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Pontefract Castle
Medieval herb garden blog 45: Creeping savory
Wednesday, November 12, 2025Week 45 volunteer update
Once again, the weather was against us. Carole did a quick flower count and checked on the newly moved nursery. She then called it a day.
The Medieval Herb Garden nursery
Plant of the week: Creeping savory (satureja spicigera)
'Satureja spicigera' comes from the Latin 'Satureja'. It is possibly believed to be named after the satyr, a mythical creature associated with lust. 'Spicigera' is the Latin term for 'bearing flower spikes'.
Creeping savory grows by the signpost in the Medieval Herb Garden. It is a perennial, mat-forming, creeping, evergreen, subshrub. It prefers to grow in well-drained, sandy, chalky or loamy soil. It grows best either south or west-facing, in full sun.
It originates from Turkey, the Caucasus and Northwestern Iran.
Creeping savory grows to a height of 4 inches with a spread of 4 feet. It has upright-to-spreading stems. These have strong-smelling, linear to narrowly lance-shaped leaves. The leaves are mid to dark green.
Creeping savory usually flowers in September. It grows whorls of dainty, tubular, two-lipped flowers. They are pure white and form on upright flower spikes.
Creeping savory smells a bit like thyme. It has a peppery taste, similar to winter savory (satureja montana).
Creeping savory in the Medieval Herb Garden
Culinary uses of creeping savory
Creeping savory has spicy, peppery leaves. They are used in bean stews, meat, fish and poultry dishes and sausages. They are also used in stuffings, sauces and soups. Creeping savory is used similarly to its close relatives winter and summer savory.
Creeping savory was used traditionally in bean dishes to relieve gas and aid digestion.
It was also added to tomato-based sauces as a subtitute for basil or oregano.
Folklore and other facts about creeping savory
Creeping savory's folklore is closely tied to the lore of other savory herbs. This is particularly in its connection to satyrs. These are half-man, half-goat mythological figures associated with lust and nature.
Due to this link, savory was considered an aphrodisiac. It was used in love potions by ancient Romans and Egyptians.
It was also believed that savory could ward off evil spirits.
Medieval medicinal uses of creeping savory*
Creeping savory has traditionally been used in medicinal herbal teas. It was a remedy for digestive issues like wind, cramps, diarrhoea and nausea. It could also ease coughs, sore throats and bronchial congestion.
Creeping savory has also been applied to the skin to soothe bee or wasp stings and ease arthritis.
Historically, the juice has also been used to improve sight and ear issues like tinnitus or deafness.
*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.
Medieval herb garden blogs
Browse all blogs by our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle. Discover each 'Plant of the Week' as chosen throughout 2025.