Ornamental Oregano Varieties To Plant For Fragrant Garden Foliage

Most people are familiar with oregano (Origanum vulgare) as a common herb used in homes around the world. Gardeners also recognize it as a hardy perennial that grows in UDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 11. But did you know that it can also be used ornamentally as a fragrant ground cover to add interest to your garden? Not to mention, ornamental oregano (Origanum laevigatum) is a plant that will fill your garden with a variety of butterflies. 

There are many different varieties of ornamental oregano, like 'Drops of Jupiter,' 'Dittany of Crete,' and 'Kent Beauty,' each with its own attractive features that add long-lasting color to any garden. In some cases, you may get small colored flowers; other varieties give you larger clusters of colorful blooms. Some varieties may be hardy in different zones. There are also several possibilities for planting ornamental oregano. All varieties can thrive in the ground or in containers. Plus, you can use an easy herb propagation technique for a never-ending supply of oregano grown from cuttings. They are great for pollinator gardens or border gardens and work as a companion plant to deter deer and rabbits.

'Amethyst Falls' is a hybrid variety of oregano that produces tiny pink blooms that blossom under chartreuse bracts. Bracts can grow either upward or downward for a wide spread of pink flowers and foliage. It thrives best in Zones 5 to 9 in full sun and works particularly well in rock gardens and low-water conditions. It attracts both bees and butterflies with blooms in late spring and summer. Fully grown, the plant spreads to be about 18 inches wide and 15 inches tall. Even though it is an ornamental oregano, the leaves can still be harvested for cooking.

'Drops of Jupiter' is another hybrid oregano plant that produces light pink blooms in Zones 4 to 9. The flowers appear at the tops of the plant in late summer and early fall. This variety does prefers a bit more water than other ornamental varieties; however, it can still do well in moderate to low water conditions. It should be planted in full sun with at least 36 inches of room to grow. Fully grown, the plant can reach 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. It is deer-resistant, but not rabbit-resistant.

'Dittany of Crete' is a smaller ornamental oregano variety that grows to be between 6 inches and 1 foot tall in Zones 8 to 11. While the plant does produce some tiny flowers in the summer, the leaves are actually the star. They start out as a deep green with silvery fuzz, which makes them look almost glittery. As the plant matures, it produces bracts with pale green whorls that turn purple as the season goes on. The pink and purple flowers bloom under the whorls. It is drought and deer-resistant and thrives in full sun.

As you may have guessed from the name, Herrenhausen is a German variety of oregano that is known for its large clusters of purple and pink flowers. It is a medium-sized variety that grows to be between 12 and 18 inches tall and wide. The tubular flowers that bloom in summer and fall are great for attracting beneficial insects to your garden in Zones 4 to 9. They are also a great addition to a fall garden with red leaves in autumn. It does best in full sun and dry soil conditions. 

'Hopley's Purple' oregano is named for the purple and red stems that produce dark green leaves. In the late summer, blooms sprout in small clusters of pink flowers with dark purple bracts. This is one of the shortest blooming varieties with blooms appearing in August to September; however, you can deadhead blooms to lengthen the season. This variety is hardy in Zones 6 to 9 and does well in full sun and low-water conditions. Fully grown, the plant can reach anywhere between 18 inches and 30 inches tall. 

'Kent Beauty' is another small variety of ornamental oregano that grows to be about 6 inches tall in Zones 6 to 11. It is commonly used in baskets because the blooms hang low in the summer and early fall. It can also be used as a ground cover because of how low it grows, but it should be planted in an area that is protected from regular foot traffic. This variety doesn't produce true flowers. Instead, it produces green and pink bracts that are slightly larger than the blue-green leaves.

'Kirigami' oregano is often compared to 'Kent Beauty' because of the pink and green bracts that bloom in the summer in Zones 5 to 8. However, the bracts of the 'Kirigami' variety are slightly larger and more showy than 'Kent beauty.' While it also does well in baskets, this plant also grows slightly larger, with a height of up to 10 inches and a width of up to 14 inches. They do best in full sun and low-water conditions and are particularly tolerant of drought and deer.

'Rosenkuppel' oregano, also known as marjoram, produces purple or red blooms in late summer and fall in Zones 5 to 8. However, it adds full, aromatic foliage to your garden for much longer. It is frequently used for dry flower arrangements or as a companion plant in gardens because of its resistance to deer and erosion. It grows best in full sun, but it can survive in partial shade with low to medium water conditions. Fully grown, it stands about 15 inches tall.