Ornamental marjoram is an redolent industrial plant that ’s grow more for its feel than its look .
As its name imply , ornamental wild marjoram ( Origanumspp . ) is grown more for its looking than its flavor . This plant offer so much texture and coloring that it ’s well worth add to your garden . Its unusual - depend pink bloom create a gorgeous show from spring to precipitate . you’re able to bring in the ravisher from outside by adding the stalk todried cut - flower bouquets .
Likeculinary oregano(Origanum vulgare ) , ornamental oregano belongs to the genusOriganum , which include about 20 species of perennial plant and U-boat - shrubs . All decorative oreganos are recurrent plants , but they are often spring up as annuals in USDA Zones 5 and cold . Most cosmetic winter sweet are low - growing plant , generally grow 6 to 10 inches tall and 12 to 24 column inch wide , but some cultivar grow to 24 inches tall . The flowers are often call bract , semen strobilus , or cone .
Credit: Denny Shrock
Where to Plant Ornamental Oregano
count on the species , most ornamental winter sweet works are hardy in USDA Zones 4 - 9 . Each change has unlike hardiness necessity , soread the plant tagandknow your USDA Hardiness Zone .
This breathtaking plant work best in rock garden where ironical to medium soil weather can be maintained and in patio containers . Ornamental oregano makesa lovely hanging basketor trailing plant in a container garden . It is a fantastic choice for gardeners withproblems with deeras they are not fond of the fragrance . It is also an excellent choice for those manage with drought condition in the garden .
How and When to Plant Ornamental Oregano
Finding ornamental oregano as young plant from garden centers is challenging . Your best wager is to produce by seminal fluid ; call your local garden center to see if they have it in stock , ororder the source online . Although you may grow this plant from stem cutting or divisions , growing cosmetic marjoram by seminal fluid is easy and the preferred method acting . Seeds sprout within 4 to 5 twenty-four hour period , and the industrial plant is mature in 14 to 17 week .
Grow Ornamental Oregano from Seed Outdoors
you may also sow in the seed directly into hanging basketful or patio container filled with well - drain grime . Do n’t cover the seeds ; just press them into moist land .
Grow Ornamental Oregano from Seed Indoors
The good sentence to sow ejaculate indoors is four to six calendar week before the outdoor weather warms to at least 60 ° F in your position . Sow them in seed flatcar or single pots in well - debilitate , slightly moist pot soil . Do n’t cover them with stain ; place them in a warm , well - dismount property . After germination , transplant the most robust seedling to the garden .
Ornamental Oregano Care Tips
Light
Ornamental oregano plants needfull sun . Although the plants will live in part sun , the flower and colorful bract constitution is much reduced .
Soil and Water
When young , cosmetic oregano plants ask moist soil , but establish plants favor a ironical environs . Water them meagrely and never let them sit in soggy soil . They grow good in alkaline filth . Test your soil ; if it is acidic , add agricultural limeto raise the pH.
Temperature and Humidity
Although ornamental Origanum vulgare flourish in warm weather ( and requires it for germination ) , the plant are cold-blooded hardy in Zones 4 - 9 , depend on the miscellany . In general , the plants do n’t like high humidness .
Fertilizer
This plant does n’t call for to be fertilize oftentimes . Anannual accession of compost to the soilaround your ornamental oregano plant provides all the nutrients it needs .
Although cosmetic wild marjoram is comestible , it ’s not tasty because it ’s been specifically bred for its peach rather than sapidity . If you plan to run through it , debar applying synthetical fertilizers ( or pesticides ) to your decorative wild marjoram .
Pruning
Remove any drained or damaged growth as it occurs . In late winter or in spring , before new outgrowth appears , cut back the flora to about 6 inches .
Potting and Repotting Ornamental Oregano
decorative oregano is an excellent terrace container or hanging basket plant . The container must have splendid drainage and befilled with well - draining filth , such as potting soil remedy with compost . A 12 - inch terra - cotta pot is usually sufficient for one plant and is easy to move indoors for winter in cold-blooded area . This plant spreads but can be make out back to remain in its grass or can be repot to a bigger pot with fresh ground .
Pests and Problems
Ornamental pot marjoram plant tend to be pesterer - gratuitous and disease - free , but letting them sit in soggy soil boost root rot .
How to Propagate Ornamental Oregano
Ornamental oregano can be propagated by seed , division , and prow cutting .
Seed : Wait until the plant blooms and the bloom die and are crumbly . entertain a sheet of newspaper or a container beneath a dry blossom and flick it with your digit to free the seed , which fall to the paper or container . stash away them in a theme gasbag range in a cool , dark expanse until spring , when you could take seed them in the garden or containers or start them inside ( seeHow and When to imbed Ornamental Oregano , above ) .
partitioning : In spring , rustle the decorative oregano industrial plant and antecedent ball from the soil . utilize a sharp knife to reduce the industrial plant into two or three section containing roots and leaf . Immediately replant the part in prepared garden land or containers and irrigate them .
Stem Cuttings :
Once the cuttings have rootedand show healthy new maturation , transfer them to larger garden container . The plants can be proceed outdoors or transpose into garden dirt when the nighttime temperature is between 60 ° F and 65 ° F . If you live outside the plant ’s hardiness zones , move them indoors in winter or replant yearly .
Types of Ornamental Oregano
‘Kent Beauty’
Origanum’Kent Beauty ' is prized for its singular , cascading pink bracts that mime record hop peak . This variety of ornamental oregano rosiness from summer to fall . It reaches only 6 to 9 inch improbable and 8 to 12 inches wide , nominate it an passing various flora . The foliage is fragrant , like the leafage of its culinary first cousin . Zones 6 - 9 .
‘Kirigami’
Origanum’Kirigami ' is a mythological ornamental oregano change covered in racy , rosy - purplish blooms from late outflow through summer . This plant cascade attractively over the edges ofpatio containers , hanging baskets , and rock’n’roll gardens . It reaches 8 to 10 inch grandiloquent and go after up to 12 to 24 in . zona 5 - 8 .
‘Drops of Jupiter’
Origanum’Drops of Jupiter ' features yellow green - yellow foliage and prime clusters of pinko with purple sepals . It mature to 24 in marvellous and 36 inch broad . zone 4 - 9 .
‘Herrenhausen’
Origanum laevigatum’Herrenhausen ' is an ornamental oregano that grows to 24 inch tall and wide with purple - pinkish peak . This shrubby works bloom from June to September in Zones 5 - 9 .
Frequently Asked Questions
Ornamental oregano is bee - well-disposed and attracts butterflies .
Typically , the industrial plant lives about five years when grown in ideal condition .
This herbaceous plant is native to Cyprus , Lebanon , Syria , and Turkey .
No , ornamental winter sweet is not believe invasive . Although it has a bit of a spreading habit , it is not aggressive .
No , this is generally not edible . This type of oregano is not as saporous as culinary oregano and should not be consume .
