Origanum vulgare 'Country Cream' (v)

RHS Plant Profile

oregano 'Country Cream'

Herbaceous Perennial Herbs - Culinary

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
22 Suppliers

A bushy, deciduous perennial becoming woody at the base, with small, variegated, aromatic leaves edged with cream, and loose sprays of tiny pink flowers in summer and early autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Origanum may be herbaceous perennials or deciduous or evergreen sub-shrubs, with aromatic foliage and spikes of small tubular flowers usually with conspicuous bracts
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a any well-drained (preferably alkaline) soil, in full sun or partial shade. See oregano cultivation for further advice This plant was included in the RHS Origanum (oregano and marjoram) trial 2022-2023 https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials-awards/plant-trial-results/origanum

Propagation

Propagate by cuttings of non-flowering shoots in mid-summer or by division in the autumn or spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Gravel garden
Wildlife gardens
Garden edging
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back old, flowered stems in early spring

Pests

May be susceptible to leafhoppers

Diseases

Generally disease-free