Origanum 'Kent Beauty' (Kent Beauty Ornamental Oregano, Kent Beauty Marjoram)


Botanical Information

FamilyLamiaceae
GenusOriganum
Cultivar'Kent Beauty'
CategoryPerennials
OriginA hybrid cross between O. rotundifolium and O. scabrum. The genus name comes from the Greek word 'oros', meaning mountain and 'ganos', which means joy.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone8b - 9a
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone8a
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH4
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-9 - (-4)
Temperature (°F)15 - 25
Height15 - 30 cm
Spread22 - 30 cm
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodJune, July, August, September

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionOriganum 'Kent Beauty' is a bushy, trailing herbaceous perennial often treated as an annual, with fragrant leaves and drooping flowers with layers of pink bracts.
CultivationGrow in full sun, in dry to medium soil.
PestsNo serious pests or diseases of note. Susceptible to root rot in wet, poorly drained soil.
HabitatHorticultural origin.
Leaf DescriptionUp to 2 cm long, oval, green with longitudinal, silver venation, fragrant but usually not used in cooking.
Flower DescriptionShowy, drooping, hop-like, bracts pink fading to lime green at the base, in whorls.

Photographs