Origanum Rosenkuppel (Ornamental Oregano)

Valued for its showy clusters of small, violet-red flowers and its fabulous foliage display, purple-flushed with dark plum veins, Origanum ‘Rosenkuppel’, commonly known as Marjoram or Ornamental Oregano, is a pretty addition to the garden.

Valued for its showy clusters of small, violet-red flowers and its fabulous foliage display, purple-flushed with dark plum veins, Origanum 'Rosenkuppel', commonly known as Marjoram or Ornamental Oregano, is a pretty addition to the garden. With a long season of interest from mid-summer to fall, it creates outstanding combinations with the warm golds of Heliopsis helianthoides or the soft pink blossoms of Sedums and is attractive to butterflies. While its leaves are aromatic, don't add them to your salads as this oregano is not of the flavorful kind!

  • Growing in decorative sprawling clumps, up to 12-18 in. tall and wide (30-45 cm), it thrives in full sun and prefers average, dry to medium, well-drained soils. Intolerant of summer heat and humidity.
  • Low maintenance and relatively disease-free, this plant is also drought tolerant and deer resistant!
  • An excellent choice for perennial borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, and Mediterranean gardens.
  • Won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Snip off the bloom clusters once the flowers drop to encourage new blooms.
  • Origanum is a genus of deciduous subshrubs and perennials including species grown as culinary herbs, others for their clusters of tubular, usually pink flowers.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.

Requirements

Hardiness 5
– 9

Heat Zones 2
– 10

Plant Type Herbs, Perennials
Plant Family Origanum – Oregano
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid,Late)Fall
Height 1'
– 2'
(30cm
– 60cm)
Spread 1'
– 2'
(30cm
– 60cm)
Spacing 12″
– 24″
(30cm
– 60cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Drought
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden, Prairie and Meadow