I've been noticing this plant around town lately- a sweet little ornamental oregano. It probably doesn't make good eating, but if you have a sunny little wall for it to cascade down you might want to give it a try. It's pretty, papery whimsical flowers remind me of hops, which reminds me of beer. These are all good things! Plus, it's deer and rabbit resistant as well as being pest free and low-maintenance.
The oreganos or Origanum genus are herbaceous perennials and subshrubs in the family Lamiaceae or Mint Family. They are native to Europe, North Africa, and much of temperate Asia, where they are found in open or mountainous habitats. A few species also naturalized in scattered locations in North America and other regions.
This oregano is a hybrid between Origanum rotundifolium and Origanum scabrum. Origanum rotundifolium, the round-leaved oregano, is native to Turkey, Armenia and Georgia. Oreganum scabrum is a native of Greece. From what I can gather the hybrid resembles the former in habit and the later in it's colorful bracts.
Origanum ‘Kent Beauty’ has a prostrate habit to 10 inches high and 12 inches wide. Grow it along side other xeriscaping plants to conserve water and keep your drought-loving plants happy.
Comments