Drops of Jupiter Ornamental Oregano

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2 Feet

Mature Spread

3 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Great as a showy flower garden plant or as an attractive addition to your herb garden, you will get dual purpose use from this versatile perennial herb. Sporting striking chartreuse leaves in spring and throwing purple calyx from which emerge mauvy pink flowers in late summer, this showy little perennial will find a place in your heart and your garden. A member of the mint family, this perennial will show a tendency to spread easily throughout your garden. After the flowers fade in late summer, the purple calyx remains giving the plant an unique color combination until fall. As an edible herb, this variety of oregano is less potent than other oregano varieties.

Native to Europe, North Africa and temperate regions of Asia, Origanum grows in open fields and mountain sides in poor to average soil with sometimes little rainfall. Hardy in Zones 4-9, United States gardeners will find this tolerance to poor, dry soils to be a boon, giving them an easy to care for perennial. This is a new introduction for this year of an ornamental herb of great reputation. It also makes a pretty and fragrant cut flower to bring the beauty into your home. You are going to want to try this in your garden this spring!

Drops of Jupiter Ornamental Oregano Care

An easy to care for and maintain perennial, Drops of Jupiter is very undemanding. Tolerating poor to average soil conditions, with an average need for water, you will find it a pleasure to include this striking herb in your garden bed. Little to no fertilizer is needed to keep this plant growing lush and green, but if your soil is particularly poor, dress it with a light application of well rotted compost. Water when rainfall is inadequate or in extended dry periods although this is a heat and drought tolerant herb. Full sun is required to fuel the plant for flower production. Soil pH in the range of 5.5 to 6.0 is optimal for good nutrient take up.

Deadheading is not needed, but you may shear the plant after bloom to stimulate new growth if you wish, although you will lose the pretty purple calyx that remains after the flowers are gone. Bees and butterflies will not be able to stay away from this ornamental oregano, so this herb makes a great addition to a pollinator garden, helping you to do your part to save our pollinators. Few insect pests will bother this plant and deer and rabbits rarely browse on it.

Drops of Jupiter Ornamental Oregano Spacing

Spacing your ornamental oregano is important as oregano as a species is very susceptible to powdery mildew. Growing to about 24 inches tall and spreading out to 36 inches wide, it is best to plant them 36 inches apart for optimal air circulation which helps to prevent disease. Whether you grow this as a less potent oregano in your culinary herb garden, in your pollinator garden or your perennial garden, you will enjoy the multiple uses you can get from this herb when massed out in your landscape or placed in a container on your sun porch, patio or deck.