Cait's Garden

When I saw this in the garden center a few years ago, I had to have it. It is an ornamental oregano (origanum rotundifolium) called “Kent Beauty.” Only after I planted it did I read more about the plant and find that while it is technically hardy to Zone 5, it can be fussy about overwatering, high humidity, and cold winters. All of which are a risk in my area. I thought perhaps it wouldn’t survive past one season. But it’s been three seasons now and the plant is thriving. In this photo it is in full flower. The flowers develop as pink “leaves” on the stems. The plant is lovely just as foliage, but the flowers are phenomenal. It’s definitely worth trying this plant in your garden, even if you have to experiment with location. Sometimes it is sold in fancy pots in garden center hot houses, but trust me, it’s tougher than it looks despite its delicacy.