How to Plant, Grow, and Care for ‘Kirigami’ Ornamental Oregano

When the word oregano pops up, most folks think of a tasty herb that is integral to many cultural cuisines. Oregano can indeed be a deliciously spicy herb, but did you know that it can also be a stunning ornamental? ‘Kirigami’ oregano is a wonderful, ornamental cultivar. Through careful breeding, certain traits like fragrance and flowering became more prominent in this variety. 

Like other ornamental oregano, ‘Kirigami’ trades flavor for other qualities. It is unusually easy to grow and care for. Like other varieties, there are a few things to know when planting this perennial herb. Read on to find out all you’ll need to know to grow your own!

History

The cultivation of oregano goes back centuries. Ancient Egyptians used it as an antidote for poisoning victims and as a preservative. From Europe to China, oregano has found use as a cure-all, and with good reason. The plant has both antibacterial and antifungal properties. Many essential oil fans would agree that its uses are extensive and vital. 

Although its culinary use is most noteworthy in modern society, historically, oregano has been used medicinally just as often. Today, many Mediterranean cuisines lean heavily upon the herb to flavor tasty dishes. The health and wellness benefits of oregano are well-studied and documented. 

Native Area

It’s not hard to deduce where this herb is native to if you look at the concentration of its use in cooking. The Mediterranean region is home to oregano. Ornamental varieties typically come from Syria, Cyprus, and Turkey. The breeding of this herb for ornamental purposes began in its native areas and is still practiced today. As a result, we have these stunning varieties to plant in our gardens. 

Oregano’s native environment experiences short, cold, wet winters and long, hot, dry summers. It is well adapted to dry, sandy, or gravelly soil types. This plant likes alkaline soil, so many of these plants take up residence in soil that contains a lot of limestone. However, it adapts to many soil types.

Characteristics

‘Kirigami’ is an attractive, low-growing ornamental. It does have some characteristics of its culinary relatives. The foliage is delicate, with small, rounded leaves that are highly aromatic. The leaves are soft green with light purple accents. Their spicy scent travels on a warm breeze, making it a great herb to plant near your outdoor living spaces. It technically isn’t a trailing plant, but as the bracts and flowers weigh down the stems, they will bend toward the ground from the weight. 

Ornamental oregano has certain other attributes that are emphasized through selective breeding. All summer long, ‘Kirigami’ will produce tons of small, pink flowers. While the flowers are not especially noteworthy, they bloom within attractive bracts. These bracts resemble hops, growing in whorls of light green with rosy accents. The bracts remain on the plant long after the flowers have faded. They also look beautiful in dried flower arrangements. 

Along with the breeding of certain traits in this plant, other traits tend to fall by the wayside. While ‘Kirigami’ is a very attractive variety, it doesn’t have much flavor. It’s not much good in the kitchen. Pollinators, however, will be attracted to the nectar-rich flowers. 

Uses

Some varieties of ornamental oregano, including this one, make a beautiful ground cover plant. If you want to fill a dry, sunny spot with something beautiful, ‘Kirigami’ is a stunning addition to the garden. It also makes an excellent companion plant in the vegetable garden. Because oregano attracts beneficial insects and also repels garden pests, it’s a great neighbor. Plant this with your tomatoes and squash for an extra layer of pest control. 

Ornamental varieties are best used for their good looks. Use this plant as a border or ground cover. It makes an ideal filler and spiller in a container arrangement and will hang over the sides of a hanging basket, as well. 

Sadly, ‘Kirigami’ is not great for eating. It has little flavor. For a more palatable type, look to Greek oregano, which has a reputation for being extra flavorful. In addition to the flavor, many of the medicinal properties get lost in the breeding of this variety.

Where to Buy ‘Kirigami’ Ornamental Oregano

Ornamental oregano can be difficult to find in local nurseries. If you have a good one nearby, it doesn’t hurt to look, but be prepared to have difficulty finding this one locally. It’s easy to find the seeds through online retailers and catalogs. You will find that most gardeners grow ornamental oregano from seeds.

Planting

‘Kirigami’ is a bit less heat tolerant than some varieties of oregano. It does have decent cold hardiness. As a general rule, though, oregano likes hot, dry weather. This type will be a perennial in Zones 5-8. It will grow as an annual elsewhere and grows well in containers. If you live in a colder climate, consider keeping your ornamental oregano in a container. That way, you can bring it indoors for the winter. 

Finding the right location is a step in the direction of healthy, thriving plants. Find a spot in the yard that gets plenty of sun and has excellent drainage. Dense or soggy soil will be a problem for this herb. Don’t worry about prioritizing nutrient density in the soil, but definitely test the pH. Oregano needs slightly alkaline soil to grow to its best potential.

You may be fortunate enough to find starts at a local nursery. While unusual, it’s worth looking nearby as these plants will mature much sooner. Plant your starts in the spring, after your last frost date, to ensure they get established and don’t become frost-damaged. The ideal soil planting temperature is between 60-65°F (16-18°C). Waiting until the soil reaches this temperature will mean a smoother transition for your young plants. 

Sadly, finding these plants can be a challenge, so most gardeners grow them from seeds. Start these seeds indoors or directly sow them in the spring. They need light to germinate, so don’t cover them much; a loose sprinkling of soil on top is more than sufficient. The same applies if you start them in a tray indoors. Press the seeds into moist soil, uncovered. Starting your seeds indoors will mean that you have mature plants earlier in the season. 

When planting, place your seedlings about 10-12 inches apart. This will give them room to stretch out some. Keep the soil moist while germinating the seeds and until the seedlings establish roots. 

How to Grow

Oregano is notoriously easy to grow. Its disease and pest resistance contribute to this. It is also highly drought tolerant, so you don’t have to give this plant much attention. Once established, they will only need occasional attention. 

Light

Your oregano can technically grow in partial shade, but the best exposure condition is full sun. Consider the natural environment of this plant. If you want your oregano to do its best blooming, it will need six to eight hours of sun daily. Truly, the more sun it gets, the better flowering you’ll get from this Mediterranean herb. 

Water

When you first sow your seeds, and while the seedlings are small with shallow roots, give more water. Your young plants will establish faster if you keep the soil moist, but don’t overdo it. Soggy roots are an oregano no-no. Wet soil is the perfect environment for fungus to grow, and that can cause root rot.

Naturally, oregano grows in places that are hot and dry for a significant portion of the year. In climates that receive moderate rainfall, you may not need to supplement with water at all. However, in times of prolonged drought, you may need to help out. 

Your oregano plant should get about one inch of water per week. The heat and sun exposure your particular plant receives will cause some variation in watering needs. More heat and afternoon sun will make more water a necessity. If your plants look droopy and dry, give them water. 

Potted plants dry out faster than those in the ground, so expect to water your potted plants a couple of times per week. Allow the soil to dry between waterings for best results, but don’t push your plants beyond their limits. 

Soil

The most important aspects to keep in mind with soil are drainage and acidity. This plant needs excellent drainage, so sandy or rocky soil is ideal. If your soil holds too much water or compacts easily, you might need to amend it. This can be tricky with oregano. 

Oregano prefers alkaline soil but is adaptable to other soil types. Adding organic materials like compost and manure will raise the acidity of the soil, which isn’t bad for the plant but will hamper its ability to shine. Since this is not a heavy feeder, you don’t need to add much, but a bit of compost worked in annually will prevent the need to fertilize. Just be sparing so that the pH remains in the neutral to alkaline range. 

Temperature and Humidity

The ideal temperature range for ‘Kirigami’ oregano is between 40-60°F (4-16°C). If you’re growing this plant below Zone 8, be prepared to give your plants more water. Summer will be taxing on this plant in zones 9-12. Within Zones 5-8, you shouldn’t have any temperature issues. 

For oregano, less is more when it comes to humidity. A range of 40-60% humidity is just right for this plant. In very humid climates, it is important to maintain good air circulation around your plants. Humidity tends to increase fungal growth. Since fungal diseases tend to be the biggest issue for these plants, keep your plants trimmed and thin out the interior in humid environments. 

Fertilizing

There is little need for fertilizer for this plant. Because it has adapted to poor soil conditions, it needs very few nutrients in the soil. Instead of fertilizing, work a small amount of organic compost into the soil when you plant and then once per year in subsequent years. This will provide all the nutrients your oregano needs without creating a too acidic environment.  

Maintenance

Culinary oregano can be a bit high maintenance. Herbs grown for eating need flower prevention to retain their flavor. The fact that we grow this plant specifically for its flowers means that we don’t want to cut them off or prevent blooming. When a culinary herb flowers, the plant directs its energy to the flowers. This means that the flavor of the leaves suffers. Ornamental herbs have value in their flowers, so trimming during the growing season is not necessary. 

If your plant gets unruly, you can, of course, do some mid-season trimming. Otherwise, wait until late winter or early spring to do your pruning. Before the plant begins a new growth cycle in the spring, cut all of the stems back to about six inches long. This encourages branches, giving you a fuller, more attractive plant.

Growing in Containers

‘Kirigami’ is an excellent container plant. The weeping stems make great fillers and spillers in a container arrangement. I think they look most beautiful in a hanging basket. Another great quality of this plant is its scent, which you will absolutely want to bring close to your outdoor living spaces. Planting in containers is also great for those in cooler climates. A potted oregano plant can come in for the winter. 

Choose a container in the right size for your plant. A single plant needs a 12″ pot, while two will work well in an 18″ pot. Terracotta pots are very good for plants that need good drainage. They wick water away from the roots, preventing fungal root rot. Whether you go with clay or another type of container, make sure it has good drainage. 

Use a potting mix that also provides good drainage. A standard potting soil is a good place to start. Mix in some coarse sand, gravel, or perlite to increase the drainage without lowering the soil’s pH. Potted plants dry out faster, so be cautious about amending the soil too much. You want the soil to retain some water. 

Place your potted oregano in a sunny location. Ideally, the plant needs six to eight hours of sun. The more sun it gets, the more flowers it will produce. Another benefit of potted plants is that they are easy to move around if the plant needs different conditions.

Propagation

You can propagate ornamental oregano in three ways. The most common method is growing this plant from seeds. You can also propagate by division and with cuttings. 

Seeds

You can start your seeds indoors or directly sow them. Starting them indoors will mean that your plants will mature earlier in the year and will bloom sooner. Directly sowing is convenient, though, especially if you’re growing many plants. These seeds need light to germinate, so don’t cover your seeds with soil. You can gently sprinkle a bit on top so they don’t blow away. But if you bury these seeds, they won’t germinate. 

Sowing indoors in trays will result in the best germination rate. Standard potting soil works for this method. The seeds don’t need any special treatment; just press them lightly into moist soil. Set the tray in a warm, sunny spot and keep it moist but not soggy. 

Cuttings

“Kirigami’ propagates effectively by cuttings. This should happen near the end of the summer, when there is plenty of new growth. Cut four to six-inch sections of tender growth and place the ends in water until you are ready to work with them. Your cuttings should each have several sets of leaves. Remove the leaves from half of the cutting and dip this end in rooting hormone. 

The reason for removing the leaves from the bottom is the nodes. The nodes are the areas where leaves grow from, and new roots will also grow from these spots. You want to have a couple of these nodes beneath the soil to give the cutting a healthy start.

Fill small containers with moist potting soil. Standard soil will work just fine here. Use your finger or a pencil to make holes in the soil, and place your cuttings into the holes with the nodes beneath the soil line. Lightly press the soil against the stems, taking care not to damage them.

Place your potted cuttings in a warm, bright window, and keep them moist while they are rooting. You will know that your cuttings are successful when they begin to show new growth. Let them grow and get stronger before planting them. 

Division

The final effective method for propagating oregano is by division. The ideal time to divide your plants is toward the end of the summer or in a temperate season. Wait until they’ve had an entire season to grow and build strong roots. Don’t wait too long, though. Your divisions need to get established on their own before a frost. 

Use a garden fork or other tool to gently loosen the plants from the soil. Lift them out, taking care not to damage the roots. Using your fork or another tool, pry the roots apart, leaving as much of the plant connected to each root cluster as possible. This process is stressful for your plants, so be gentle. 

After dividing, plant your new divisions in the same or a new location. Take extra special care of your new plants for a few weeks while they recover from the stress. They will look a bit sad for the next few weeks, but they should bounce back with the right care. As with cuttings, new growth is an indication that your divisions were successful.

Common Problems

Oregano is a great little plant that has very few issues. While you may encounter the occasional aphid or spider mite, nuisance insects tend to avoid it because of the scent and oils. It will rarely be necessary to apply any type of treatment to eradicate pests. Oregano also attracts beneficial insects. The combination of these two factors is what makes the plant such a great garden neighbor. 

Fungal diseases are a potential threat, particularly in humid climates. Because hot, damp weather lends itself to fungal growth, adjust your care accordingly. If you live in a humid climate, make sure your plant gets full sun exposure and good air circulation. Thin out your plants if they appear too crowded. 

If you are not seeing any flowers, the issue is probably a lack of sun exposure. Oregano transplants well, so don’t hesitate to relocate it if it’s not blooming in the original space. 

Frequently Asked Questions