How to Plant, Grow, and Care for ‘Kent Beauty’ Ornamental Oregano

‘Kent Beauty’ ornamental oregano is an herb bred for specific traits. The characteristics selected for the species make it a beautiful garden plant. Showy flowers and aromatic foliage make this a desirable plant for framing outdoor living spaces. As pretty as it is, it’s even easier to grow and care for. Let’s talk about this exciting plant that looks beautiful and smells great!

History

Oregano has been cultivated for centuries, dating back at least as far as Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians believed it was an antidote for poisoning victims, and used it as a preservative, as well. The herb found use with Chinese healers, and in Europe. These cultures treated it as a cure-all, and many essential oil enthusiasts would agree. 

The medicinal properties of oregano are well documented, and the culinary use is even more prolific. Many Mediterranean adjacent cultures have used this herb to add flavor to food for ages. The herb continues to find its use in medicine and cooking to this day. Studies prove that the oil from the oregano plant is both antifungal and antibacterial. 

Native Area

It is those same countries in the Mediterranean region that can call this herb a native plant. The ornamental species of oregano originates primarily in Cyprus, Turkey, and Syria. The herb has been used in culinary arts for as long as these civilizations have been cooking. The ornamental varieties, however, underwent selective breeding for other purposes. 

This and other types of oregano grow in climates with hot, dry summers. It’s common to find the plants on hillsides, as they grow well in sandy and rocky soils. Because they prefer alkaline soil, they like to grow in places with a lot of limestone in the soil. 

Characteristics

Ornamental oregano plants bear some resemblance to their culinary relatives. Through selective breeding, hybridizers have emphasized certain attributes, such as flower size. In most ornamental varieties, the spicy flavor is not present. The wonderful aroma of the leaves, however, remains. 

‘Kent Beauty’ is a lower-growing variety with delicate, silvery green foliage. The leaves are strongly aromatic and release more scent when crushed. The branches initially grow erect, but as the flowers and bracts form, they take on a weeping quality. This plant is wonderful in a planter or hanging basket, as it appears to have a trailing habit. 

The flowers on this plant are small, tubular, and purple. They are nectar-rich and a great source of food for pollinators, who will visit your garden looking for this plant. The large, showy bracts that surround the flowers also mostly obscure them from sight. The bracts are lovely in their own right, resembling pale purple, rose, and cream-colored hops. The kind used for making beer. 

‘Kent Beauty’ is a truly beautiful plant when in bloom. It blooms throughout the summer and retains its bracts for much longer. For its wonderful attributes, it is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, which goes to only the most exemplary plants. 

Uses

Ornamental oreganos are just that. Their breeding produces plants that have beautiful flowers and a strong aromatic quality. Along with selective breeding, the plants have lost much of their flavor. ‘Kent Beauty’ may look and smell delicious, but the flavor simply isn’t there. For a more flavorful oregano variety, look to Greek oregano, which has an appropriate reputation for its popularity in the kitchen. 

This ornamental variety is best used in that way. It makes a striking border for the flower garden or outdoor living space. It looks gorgeous when spilling over the side of a basket or container. 

Ornamental oregano retains the pest deterrent characteristic of the edible sort. This makes it a good companion plant in the vegetable garden. It draws pollinators and deters harmful insects, creating a delightful harmony around your prize-winning tomato plants. 

Some varieties make nice ground cover plants, and ‘Kent Beauty’ is a low-growing variety that works well in that fashion. In terms of essential oil, oregano ranks among the most prized. However, along with the flavor, this variety has lost most of its valuable compounds through hybridization. 

Where to Buy ‘Kent Beauty’ Ornamental Oregano

It may be difficult to find this plant at the local nursery, but if you have an excellent one nearby, it won’t hurt to ask. The seeds are easy enough to find online and in seed catalogs. Most gardeners grow these plants from seed. 

Planting

‘Kent Beauty’ is a heat-loving plant that is only perennial in Zones 6-9. It will grow as an annual or potted plant in cooler climates, where it needs to come indoors in the winter. If you garden inside those zones, you’re a lucky one because these plants will return in the spring. Keep your climate zone in mind any time you choose a plant.

Location is a key concern when choosing where to plant your oregano. Look for a spot that gets full sun exposure and has excellent drainage. This plant is not well suited to dense or wet soil types. Nutrients are less important than soil pH. Oregano prefers alkaline soil, so don’t add too much organic material to your soil. Go for sand instead. However, it will adapt to other soil types. 

If you get lucky and find starts at a nursery, planting is easy. Plant ‘Kent Beauty’ in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. The soil temperature needs to warm to 60-65°F (16-18°C) for these plants to settle in. Because of its availability, it is more common to start this plant from seeds. 

You can directly sow oregano seeds in the garden. Leave them uncovered or only lightly covered, as they require light for germination. If you want to get started early, start your seeds indoors in a seed tray in late winter. 

Plant your seedlings or starts about ten to twelve inches apart, giving them room to spread out. Keep the soil moist until your seeds sprout and the plants have established roots.

How to Grow

One of the nicest things about this plant is how easy it is to care for. It requires very little effort for the payoff. You will have to pay some attention to your young plants, but once they establish roots, you can sit back and enjoy them. 

Light

Give your oregano a Mediterranean amount of sunlight if you want it to bloom. It can grow in partial shade and will still be an attractive plant. But, if you want to see those beautiful cascades of bracts, you’ll need to give it a sunny spot in the garden. 

Aim for six to eight hours of sun exposure daily. For this Mediterranean native, the more sun, the better.

Water

Your young oregano plants will need moist soil until they get established. Once they mature, these plants are highly drought tolerant. Their natural environment includes long, hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters. Soggy roots are not a good idea, and they are likely to develop root fungus if left in wet soil. 

In general, your oregano plants need about one inch of water weekly. This depends on the weather and how much sun they get. In a hot climate, planted in full sun, your plants will need more water. Allow the soil to dry between waterings. Once-a-week watering should typically be sufficient for oregano plants. Water your potted plants more frequently, as they dry out faster. 

Soil

Drainage and pH are the important factors to consider when choosing or amending your soil. Oregano likes excellent drainage and grows well in rocky or sandy soil. If your soil is very dense, you can amend it with sand and gravel to help with drainage. Oregano grows very well in naturally poor, sandy, or rocky soil. 

Soil pH is more important than nutrient density. These plants are not heavy feeders, and they prefer slightly alkaline soil. You can work a bit of compost into the soil before planting to minimize fertilizing but don’t go too heavy on it. Too much organic compost will raise the acidity of the soil, but that won’t necessarily hamper the growth of your oregano.

Temperature and Humidity

In terms of temperature, ideally, your oregano will be happiest in the range of 60-80°F (16-27°C). In the long, hot summers of Zone 9, you may see some wilting from this plant. This is a good time to increase the frequency of watering. Farther north up to zone 6, your plants will be very happy during the hot months. 

Oregano doesn’t like high humidity. The ideal range is between 40-60%, and much higher humidity can cause fungal issues for your plant. If you live in a very humid climate, make sure your plant has good air circulation. Thinning out the interior of the plant can help to increase airflow. 

Fertilizing

Oregano is not a heavy feeder, so it doesn’t require much in the way of fertilizer. Adding some compost to the soil once a year should give your plant the nutrients it needs. Using a gentle all-purpose fertilizer a few times a year might enhance growth, but it’s unnecessary. Just be careful about making the soil more acidic as this plant won’t tolerate the low pH. 

Maintenance

Ornamental oregano requires less maintenance than the culinary varieties. Culinary oregano should not be allowed to flower; doing so alters the flavor, and not in a good way. So, while you need to trim culinary oregano regularly, ornamental oregano is not so. It can be allowed to grow unchecked all summer long. 

Pruning time for this plant falls in late winter or early spring. Before the plant enters a growth phase, you should cut the stems back to about four to six inches long. This will encourage branching and give you a more attractive plant in the coming year.

Growing in Containers

Your oregano will be happy in a container. ‘Kent Beauty’ has that weeping quality that makes it a stunning filler for hanging containers or large planter arrangements. The foliage is fragrant, so it’s nice to have this plant in your living spaces. In colder climates, you will need to bring your oregano indoors for the winter. Planting it in a container makes this possible. 

Select the container that’s the best size for the plant or plants that you want to pot. In general, one plant will do well in a 12″ pot, and two will be better off in an 18″ container. Clay pots are great for plants that don’t like wet roots. They wick water, so they keep your soil from getting waterlogged. Whichever container you choose, it should have adequate drainage holes. 

Your potting medium should also have great drainage. Start with a standard potting soil and mix in some coarse particles like sand, perlite, or gravel. This will increase the drainage without making the soil more acidic. Don’t go too far with the soil, as potted plants dry out faster. You don’t want to create more work for yourself. 

Choose a location that gets at least six hours of sun to place your potted oregano. This will help your plant produce more flowers and pretty bracts. Remember that hanging plants dry out even faster, so keep a close watch on these for signs of dehydration. 

Propagation

This is an easy plant to propagate, and you can use several different methods. The most common way to propagate oregano is by seeds, but division and cuttings work, as well.

Seeds

Oregano seeds can go directly into the garden when the soil warms to 60°F (16°C). You may not see the nest germination rate this way, but it is possible. Because they need light to germinate, there is a higher chance of them getting blown or washed away before they have a chance to germinate. 

If you want to avoid the disappointment of a low germination rate, try sowing your seeds in trays. A standard potting soil works well for starting these seeds. They don’t need anything special, just a warm spot with a bit of sunshine. They do need to stay moist during germination and while they are young and fragile. 

It should take two to three weeks to see your seeds sprout. Wait until they have some of their permanent leaves before hardening them off outside. 

Cuttings

Propagation by cuttings is a very effective method of propagation. Ornamental oregano grows well from cuttings. Always take your cuttings from new growth. Cut sections of brach that are four to six inches long and have several sets of leaves. 

Place your cuttings in water as soon as you cut them. Keep them moist until you are ready to work with them. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting. The nodes are where the roots will grow from. Use a rooting hormone to speed the process. Simply dip the end of the stem into the rooting hormone before planting. 

Fill small containers with moist potting soil. Use a pencil or your finger to make holes in the soil, and plant the cuttings with the side you’ve removed the leaves from facing down. Lightly press the soil around the cuttings. Place them in a warm, bright window and keep them moist. When you see new growth, your little plants have rooted and can soon be transplanted. 

Division

Propagation by division is another effective method for oregano plants. Wait until the end of the summer or a temperate season to divide your plants. You want as much growth as possible, but you don’t want to wait too long. Your divisions need to establish roots before a freeze for them to be successful. 

Use a spade or garden fork to gently lift the roots of your plant from the soil. Use the fork or another tool to gently pry the plant and roots apart into sections. Be as gentle as possible. This process is stressful for the plant. 

Re-plant your divisions in the desired locations. Baby your plants for a few weeks, as they will tend to look bedraggled from the trauma. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. They should perk up in a matter of weeks. New growth means that your divisions are successful. 

Common Problems

As plants go, oregano is pretty tough. This variety is particularly resistant to pests, who dislike the strong aroma and oils of the foliage. Some fungal issues can affect oregano plants, but in general, it has great disease resistance. Most of the issues you will face with your oregano are easy to deal with. 

A lack of flowering is usually caused by a lack of sun exposure. If your plants are not blooming in the first year, they may need to be transplanted to a sunnier spot. Oregano isn’t difficult to transplant, so you should be able to do this without harming the plant.

If you live in a humid climate, keep your plants thinned out. Too much moisture can make your oregano more susceptible to fungal disease. The best way to combat this is with sunlight and air circulation. 

Frequently Asked Questions