Ornamental Oregano (Origanum Laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’)

Features and Characteristics

Origanum laevigatum is a shrubby, woody-based marjoram or oregano that is native to rocky areas of Turkey and Cyprus. Tiny, purplish-pink, two-lipped flowers (typical mint family) rise above the foliage in summer in terminal or axillary spikes. Flowers bloom from June to September.

Genus name probably comes from the Greek words oros meaning “mountain” and gamos meaning “beauty” in reference to the physical appearance of this plant which is sometimes native of mountain areas where it is appropriately referred to as “beauty of the mountain”.

From Latin, the specific epithet means smooth or slippery in reference to the almost hairless plant leaves.

‘Herrenhausen’ is grown primarily for its attractive foliage and flowers. A rhizomatous, upright to sprawling, woody-based subshrub which typically grows 12-18″ tall and spreads to 24″ wide, but dies to the ground in cold winters. Stems root at the notes as they go along the ground. Features aromatic, oval, green to reddish-purple leaves (to 1″ long) on contrasting red stems. Leaves deepen in color as the summer progresses, with the best purple colors usually occurring in cool climates.