3. Drops of Jupiter
I wasn’t sure how to make sense of this cultivar’s name when I first came across it.
But according to Nicole Hoonhorst, PR Specialist at Walters Gardens, ‘Drops of Jupiter’ was named for its fantastical coloration, with “drops” alluding to the numerous flowers it produces.
Hybrid ‘Drops of Jupiter’ may sweep you off your feet with its ornamental value: showy chartreuse leaves and stems offset with profuse clusters of pink flowers surrounded by rich purple sepals.
Grow this variety in full sun and it will reward you with even more vibrant color.
While you technically could eat the leaves, their flavor is inconsequential – far milder than leaves from varieties bred for cooking.
‘Drops of Jupiter’ blooms later and longer than other oreganos, from midsummer to early autumn.
Plants reach 18 to 24 inches tall, and it spreads quite handily to fill up large containers or bare spots in borders and rock gardens. It can grow three feet wide as it matures.
The plants are hardy in Zones 4 to 9, so you can rely on them to come back season after season even in cooler climates.
Live plants are available from Burpee.
4. Golden
All that’s gold does not glitter…
Take golden oregano, O.vulgare ‘Aureum.’ While it’s in no way shiny, it does sport lovely greenish-gold leaves. And it is quite valuable, though not in buried treasure terms.
No, this plant proves its worth as a ground cover, culinary herb, pollinator magnet, and deer-resistant garden plant.
The bright leaves complement other shrubs in the landscape or flower border, too, and brighten up gloomy spots with their color.
It’s even relatively cold tolerant and can be grown as a perennial in Zones 4 to 8.
‘Aureum’ will grow six to 12 inches tall handily and it spreads readily to a width of 18 inches. If you’re growing it for culinary purposes, it’s best to pinch the buds before they flower to keep the foliage from becoming bitter.
Along with other oregano varieties with light-colored or variegated leaves, the golden variety needs protection from harsh afternoon sunlight.
That’s easy enough to provide, either by situating the plants in a part-shade location or with the strategic use of shade cloth. That seems like a small price to pay for this golden opportunity…
Plants are available in mix-and-match three-packs from Burpee.
5. Greek
Here’s one situation where the phrase “It’s all Greek to me!” has a positive spin.
Greek oregano, O. vulgare ssp. hirtum, is a bit more pungent than its Italian counterpart – another variety commonly used in cooking that we’ll cover a bit later in this roundup.
But this culinary oregano is a standout for seasoning all types of Mediterranean cuisine.
Happily, this fast-growing, mounding plant grows about two feet tall and wide, rapidly multiplying via underground runners. It will produce plenty of soft, hairy leaves to cook with and dry for later use.
You can grow it as part of a kitchen garden or in a window box, but don’t overlook the option to grow Greek oregano as an herbal ground cover, even in chillier areas.
It’s hardy in Zones 5 to 10 and will tolerate both poor soil and drought, just as long as you grow it in full sun and well-draining soil.
Greek oregano seeds are available in packets and in bulk from Eden Brothers.
6. Hot and Spicy
Here’s that culinary oregano that reignited my passion for home cooking!
This O. vulgare cultivar isn’t ghost pepper or even jalapeno-level on the Scoville scale, but it does have a bit of a bite.
It’s handy for those who like to cook Tex-Mex dishes or who season with copious black pepper and want to add a similar heat with a more vegetal, fresh herb option.
Low-growing and bushy, ‘Hot and Spicy’ reaches 24 to 30 inches tall with an equal spread.
It is cold hardy in Zones 5 to 9, which means you can harvest the leaves to cook with long after homegrown chilies have died off or been plucked clean for winterizing.
The white flowers that bloom in summer are also edible, but be sure to pinch off the buds if you’re still harvesting leaves. Once the plant flowers, the flavor of the leaves becomes overly pungent.
Try fresh, minced leaves in jarred salsa or as a garnish atop homemade enchiladas.
Or, warm the leaves in a bit of olive oil to bring out their flavor, and use the oil as a finishing swirl in vegetable soups or to dip bread.
‘Hot and Spicy’ oregano is available as part of a three-plant mix-and-match set from Burpee.
7. Italian
Origanum x majoricum is the botanical name, but this type is often called Italian oregano – or maybe we should say “Italian American.”
Native to the Mediterranean, this oregano hybrid is also known as hardy marjoram. It has a more subtle, sweeter flavor than Greek oregano and is featured at pizzerias and in frozen foods across the US and elsewhere.
This is a great plant for herb garden beginners looking for a flavor powerhouse to try their hand at. The leaves can be used in dishes from fish and salads to stews and, yes, Italian tomato sauce.
Like all culinary oregano, this herb is far milder fresh than dried, so be prepared to use about three times more than you would from the garden if you were dipping into a jar from the pantry.
Both the stems and fuzzy little mint-green leaves are edible, and they can be frozen in butter, dehydrated, or air-dried. You’ll have plenty to harvest if you choose to grow this variety since it will attain 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide.
The flowers are white or pink and fragrant. They’ll draw pollinators and assail your senses if you plant this herb near an outdoor kitchen or patio. You might find the blooms tasty, too. They’re attractive as garnishes or to flavor herb butter or soups and stews.
For more information about harvesting and cooking with edible flowers, see our guide.
Note that these plants aren’t quite as cold-tolerant as some others, hardy in USDA Zones 6 to 9, so be sure to grow it in containers so you can bring it indoors if you want to keep the season going when temperatures plummet.
Italian oregano is available in four-packs of live plants from Bonnie Plants via Amazon or in 1000-seed packets from IB Prosperity via Amazon.
8. Kent Beauty
‘Kent Beauty’ may sound like the winner of a pageant in a southeast England hamlet, but it’s an ornamental plant – and one that’s quite likely to win first prize in a flower contest.
In fact, this hybrid cultivar earned a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 2012.
You can grow it as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 9 and everywhere else as an annual or a plant that overwinters indoors.
Rose Kennedy
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