Kent Beauty Oregano Origanum 'Kent Beauty'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Kent Beauty is an ornamentally appealing plant known for its distinctive cascading habit and charming, hop-like flowers. Its foliage is composed of small, rounded leaves that exhibit a soft green to grey-green hue, exuding a pleasant aroma when brushed or crushed. As the plant matures, the stems become increasingly trailing, making it an excellent choice for hanging baskets and container gardens where its beauty can be appreciated up close. The flowers of Kent Beauty emanate an exquisite allure, featuring bracts in shades of pink, lavender, and cream that are arranged in overlapping scales resembling hops or small pine cones. These floral bracts are delicate and papery, creating a whimsical and textured appearance. The actual flowers are tiny and less noticeable, as they are nestled within the showy bracts. Blooming profusely, the plant's flowers drape gracefully, adding to its ornate charm. This plant is not only treasured for its visual splendor but also for the touch of whimsy and softness it brings to the garden space. Its trailing nature and showy bracts make it a unique and attractive addition to any planting arrangement designed to evoke wonder and beauty.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Lamiaceae
- Synonyms
  Kent Beauty Oregano, Ornamental Oregano, Trailing Oregano
- Common names
  Origanum 'Kent Beauty'
Toxicity
- To humans
  Oregano 'Kent Beauty' is generally considered non-toxic to humans. As a cultivar of oregano, which is commonly used as a culinary herb, it is not associated with poisonings when consumed in normal food quantities. However, consuming large amounts of oregano might cause gastrointestinal upset in some individuals due to the presence of essential oils and other compounds.
- To pets
  Oregano 'Kent Beauty' is also typically non-toxic to pets, although the essential oils it contains can potentially cause mild gastrointestinal irritation if consumed in significant amounts. This might lead to symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea in pets like cats and dogs. However, it is not anticipated to cause serious poisoning or long-term health issues when ingested in small, culinary quantities.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  5
- Native area
  Mediterranean

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic appeal: 'Kent Beauty' oregano has a distinctive cascading growth habit and attractive pink and pale green bracts, making it a visually appealing addition to gardens and hanging baskets.
- Drought tolerance: This plant is drought-tolerant once established, requiring less watering and maintenance compared to many other garden plants.
- Pollinator attraction: The flowers of 'Kent Beauty' oregano can attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, supporting pollination in the garden.
- Culinary use: While not as commonly used for culinary purposes as other oregano varieties, 'Kent Beauty' can still be used in some dishes for a mild flavor.
- Easy to grow: It is generally easy to care for, making it suitable for novice gardeners or those looking for low-maintenance plants.
- Long blooming season: This variety typically has a long flowering period, providing color and interest throughout the summer and sometimes into fall.
- Container gardening: 'Kent Beauty' oregano is well-suited for containers due to its trailing habit, making it a great choice for balconies, patios, or areas with limited space.
- Herb garden addition: It can be included in herb gardens for diversity in both appearance and potential use.
Medical Properties
- Antioxidant: Origanum 'Kent Beauty' may contain phenolic compounds known for their antioxidant properties, which can help neutralize free radicals in the body.
- Antibacterial: The essential oils of the plant have been studied for potential antibacterial effects against various strains of bacteria.
- Antifungal: Similar to its antibacterial properties, components of the plant may exhibit antifungal activity.
- Anti-inflammatory: Origanum species can possess anti-inflammatory properties, potentially reducing inflammation in the body.
- Carminative: Like other members of the mint family, it might aid in alleviating symptoms of indigestion or flatulence.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Kent Beauty oregano can be used in floral arrangements, both fresh and dried, owing to its delicate and ornamental bracts.
- This plant can serve as a natural dye for fabrics, offering a range of soft green to yellow hues depending on the mordant used.
- Kent Beauty is suitable for use in crafts, such as potpourri, wreaths, and as an inclusion in homemade candles for texture and visual interest.
- The plant can be infused in oils to create fragrant concoctions for use in natural perfumery or as a scented base for skincare products.
- It can be implemented in garden design as ground cover due to its trailing habit, providing aesthetic ground layering and suppressing weeds.
- Kent Beauty oregano can be placed among vegetable crops to provide a diverse habitat that attracts beneficial insects for pest control.
- Culinary artists might use the small, decorative flowers as edible garnishes to add a unique visual element to dishes.
- When grown indoors, the plant can add an element of texture and color to interior décor without taking up too much space due to its compact size.
- Enthusiasts of miniature fairy gardens often use Kent Beauty oregano to create a lush, whimsical landscape owing to its delicate appearance.
- Some pet owners use dried Kent Beauty oregano as a non-toxic, fragrant bedding material in small critter enclosures.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Origanum 'Kent Beauty' is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Origanum 'Kent Beauty' is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Peace: Kent Beauty Oregano, with its delicate blossoms, is often associated with tranquility and calmness, making it a symbol of peace.
- Happiness: The vibrant and cheerful appearance of the flowers symbolizes joy and happiness.
- Harmony: As an herb commonly used in cooking to blend flavors, Kent Beauty Oregano represents harmony and balance in life.
- Health: Oregano is renowned for its medicinal properties, so it symbolizes good health and well-being.
- Love: With its beautiful draping blooms, the plant is sometimes associated with the tenderness of love.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Kent Beauty oregano should be watered when the soil feels dry to the touch. This plant prefers to dry out slightly between waterings. Depending on the environment's humidity and temperature, this may mean watering approximately once a week. Use about 8-16 ounces of water for smaller pots or up to a gallon for larger containers, ensuring even soil moisture. Be cautious not to over-water, as this plant is sensitive to root rot when sitting in wet soil for too long.
Light
Kent Beauty oregano thrives in full sun conditions where it can receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The best spot for this plant is in a south-facing window or a sunny spot in the garden that receives ample light throughout the day. It can tolerate partial shade, but flowering and foliage production will be best in full sun.
Temperature
Kent Beauty oregano is hardy in warmer climates and prefers temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant can survive minimum temperatures down to around 30 degrees Fahrenheit but will not tolerate frost. Ideal growing conditions maintain consistent warmth without major fluctuations.
Pruning
Prune Kent Beauty oregano to encourage bushy growth and prevent legginess. Snip the stems after the first flush of flowers to promote a second blooming. Pruning is best done in the early spring or after flowering. Do not prune more than a third of the plant at a time to avoid stressing it.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Kent Beauty oregano requires well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 8.0. A mix of two parts potting soil, one part perlite, and one part sand is ideal for ensuring adequate drainage. Regularly check the soil moisture to maintain slight dampness without waterlogging.
Repotting
Kent Beauty oregano should be repotted every two to three years to rejuvenate the soil and provide space for root growth. It is best to repot in spring or early summer before the plant enters its active growing phase.
Humidity & Misting
Kent Beauty oregano thrives in a moderate humidity environment. Typically, ambient humidity levels found in most homes are sufficient, avoiding the need for any special measures to alter humidity.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, well-draining soil, and water moderately.
- Hardiness zone
  5-9 USDA
Life cycle
The Origanum 'Kent Beauty', commonly known as the ornamental oregano, begins its life cycle when the seeds are sown in early spring after the last frost. These seeds germinate and develop into seedlings, which are then gradually acclimated to outdoor conditions before being transplanted. As the plants establish, they grow into a mat-forming perennial, producing trailing stems and spade-shaped leaves during their vegetative growth stage. The plant reaches maturity when it blooms in late spring to summer, flaunting hop-like, pink to purple bracts that are highly aromatic. After the flowering period, the plant sets seeds, which can be collected if seed propagation is desired, or the plant can be propagated through cuttings. During the fall and winter, the Ornamental Oregano dies back, entering a period of dormancy, especially in regions with colder climates, only to regrow the following spring from its hardy root system.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- Propogation: The most popular method of propagating Origanum 'Kent Beauty', commonly known as ornamental oregano, is by taking stem cuttings, typically in the late spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing. To propagate, select a healthy, non-flowering stem and cut a 4 to 6 inch (10 to 15 centimeters) length, just below a leaf node. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip the cut end into rooting hormone powder to encourage root development. Then, place the cutting in a pot filled with a moistened mix of equal parts peat and perlite or a well-draining potting soil. Cover the pot with a plastic bag to create a mini-greenhouse effect, keeping the humidity high and maintaining the soil's moisture without waterlogging. Place the pot in a warm, bright location out of direct sunlight to avoid scorching the cuttings. Roots typically form within a few weeks, after which the new ornamental oregano plants can be transplanted into individual pots to continue growing.