Origanum 'Kent Beauty'

Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)

Origanum 'Kent Beauty', an award-winning ornamental oregano, is a semi-evergreen perennial grown for its attractive flowers and foliage, offering summer through fall interest. Long blooming and considered one of the showiest ornamental oreganos, Origanum 'Kent Beauty' flowers heavily in pendulous heads of papery, hop-like, bracted flowers in delicate shades of pink, cream, and green. Borne in cascading clusters on long, wiry stems, the flowers have a subtle scent and make excellent cuts for fresh and dried arrangements.

This bushy herbaceous subshrub has a low trailing and mounding habit and a slow growth rate. The small, oval, blue green to grey green leaves are aromatic. However, they are not considered culinary quality and are not used in cooking.

An easy-care plant, good for beginners, Origanum 'Kent Beauty' prefers full sun and dry soil with good drainage but is highly adaptable to a range of soils, including neutral, acid, or alkaline and gritty, sandy loams. Origanum 'Kent Beauty' is disease and deer resistant and heat and drought tolerant, but intolerant of high humidity.

Best mass planted, Origanum 'Kent Beauty' adds lovely color and texture to a rock garden or xeriscape, to borders and edging, or to hanging baskets and window boxes, where it will gracefully drape over the edges. The plant should not be located in a foot trafficked area.